Thread: How does Lapping actually work?

And as for scratches, I do not see how they matter as long as the surface is overall flat to the bevel. Bevels are thin, but microns are even smaller. Dont forget the fact that In the case of the dished hone up there (after its smoothed out), the effect would be similar to a layer or two of tape on the spine. If you pretend the dish is smooth, and take an arc with the same width as a razors bevel from it, for most intents in purposes it will be flat. Now picture the full blade on it. Even for that distance, the stone is relatively flat. But for humor sake, extend the line of the bevels contact out, and it will pass just under the spine of the razor. The dish only really becomes noticable at the 2" mark, and then more so at the 3" mark. give it a try, scroll up and block of the monitor with a couple sheets of notebook paper to only show different sized sections, ignore the ruler in the picture while doin this.

Euclid,
Honing razors is not easy, but baking a cake isn't exactly a piece of pie either.

Michael

Here, here for bakers, there are bakers and there are… Bakers. True Baking really is much more art than science… even with a recipe. And maybe that makes my point. And you are right Michel, it’s not that easy, anything worth doing well rarely is.

All I’m saying is there is no recipe for much of this, because there are so many other variables. So there only guidelines. X worked for one person it might work for you and your stone. When we tell novices here is the recipe for honing a razor or lapping a stone we may be setting them up for failure because we don’t explain the variables, and we don’t know the largest - the pilot.

Back in the late 50’s Ben Hogan wrote, what at the time people thought was the definitive book on golf. To the dismay of many he wrote down all his secrets. It has sold multiple millions of copies. Why is it, there are only a handful of people in the world that can play golf at Tiger Woods’ level?

All of my finishers have scratches, Thüringen’s, Black & Translucent Arks, c12K and probably Coticlues & Synthetics as well they just don’t show as pronounced. All finish well, no fractured edges that I can see at 100 magnifications or feel shaving on my face. For me, that is what counts.

Lame you are right, if I could figure a way to even out the grit easily and retain the arc, it would make a good experiment, alas I am not that ambitious.

I always seem to have a change of heart when it comes to lapping/soaking/spritzing.

For past few weeks I've been going at 1k Chosera + 5/8/12 SS progression in dry-minimalistic style.
No water on any stones, and occasional lapping only on 1k when setting bevels, and
very light sandpapering with 1200 grit when the SS gets clogged up.
With the minimalist approach, though, I tend to move the razors around to wear the stones down evenly.

My current take is that the razors are as shave worthy as any, I save 10-15 minutes from stone preps, and hands stay dry.


I'm sure in 3 weeks I'll have a change of heart when I get frustrated from dished 8K and go into meticulous lapping/soaking routine for a while.

Speaking of "true flatness" There are items called Gauge blocks. They are used for calibrating measuring equipment, like calipers and such. I came across a set when I was in school for fabrication.

They are steel, and perfectly flat. They are so flat, when you put two together, there's no room for air, so they act as if magnatized. Pretty cool, at least I thought so at the time.

Gauge block - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Recently acquired a hone from JimmyHAD. He had lapped it so well the rubbing stone sticks when you work up a slurry if you push the water out. It sticks well enough to pick the stone up. First class job JimmyHAD.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Here, here for bakers, there are bakers and there are… Bakers. True Baking really is much more art than science… even with a recipe. And maybe that makes my point. And you are right Michel, it’s not that easy, anything worth doing well rarely is.

All I’m saying is there is no recipe for much of this, because there are so many other variables. So there only guidelines. X worked for one person it might work for you and your stone. When we tell novices here is the recipe for honing a razor or lapping a stone we may be setting them up for failure because we don’t explain the variables, and we don’t know the largest - the pilot.

Back in the late 50’s Ben Hogan wrote, what at the time people thought was the definitive book on golf. To the dismay of many he wrote down all his secrets. It has sold multiple millions of copies. Why is it, there are only a handful of people in the world that can play golf at Tiger Woods’ level?

All of my finishers have scratches, Thüringen’s, Black & Translucent Arks, c12K and probably Coticlues & Synthetics as well they just don’t show as pronounced. All finish well, no fractured edges that I can see at 100 magnifications or feel shaving on my face. For me, that is what counts.

Lame you are right, if I could figure a way to even out the grit easily and retain the arc, it would make a good experiment, alas I am not that ambitious.

__________________________________________________ _________________

Euclid,

You are on the ball. Keep posting.........................

Jerry