Engine cylinder honing tool - GIF

[hemmjo]

Technically that is a glaze buster not a hone. The difference is a STONE hone will be used after boring to finish a cylinder, make it round and can remove imperfections. Used properly GOOD stone hone can be used to enlarge a board if necessary. The glaze buster will actually exaggerate any imperfection in the bore. Similar to the way that semi trucks will "transfer" an imperfection in a highway surface down the road. As each ball bounces out of an imperfection in the cylinder, its skips the next section of cylinder and slam down making another imperfection.

Ball hones do have their place. Like any tool they have to be used correctly. You will often see Top Fuel or Funny Car crews use a ball hone between rounds to help their engine maintain good lubrication of the 1000 foot run.