Thread: touching up a straight razor edge

I need some advice on getting another stone for touching up the edge on a straight razor. I have a Naniwa 12K stone and would like to get one more lower grit stone from this. There is a Naniwa 5k stone would this be a good next stone. It is expensive so that is why I'm asking. what about the diamond plates.Would like to eventually get into more honing with more experience. Does anyone have any suggestions on this? or advise. Is there another approach for me to take?

5k is a good mid level stone but for no more than touching up I would suggest something closer to the 12k like an 8k. That is in terms of synthetics. Personally I prefer naturals and from that point of view I would recommend a good thuringian with a slurry stone. Going that route, if you had to, sell the 12k to help finance it. Of course that's just my opinion for someone new to honing. You can practically trip and drop your razor on a good thuri and get a good edge. Now if it were me I would invest in the biggest surgical black I could afford...of course now I'm just day dreaming.
What were we talking about ...

Seriously though, someone more invested in synthetics will probably have better advice if that is the way you want to go. I'll say naturals all day long. YMMV.

If you want a synthetic stone to use before the 12k then 8k is the step down. In the past 8k was the top of the grit level and you could get a very nice shave off of 8k. But now 12k or 20k is better. I like synthetic stones so im on the other side of the street from Paul. But its all personal choice.

5k is a bit course for touching up an edge. Its used mainly to step up from 2k or 3k on the way up from a full bevel set.

The 8k Naniwa Superstone will go great with your 12k Nanny. Or you could go with 3µ 3M type 261 plain backed (non sticky) lapping film. No substitutes except maybe the NanoLapTech type 26x which I suspect is just rebranded 3M type 261, or else the ThorLabs 3µ film, which is good, too, but ThorLabs doesn't have 1µ so I don't deal with them anymore. 1µ is slightly finer than the 12k Naniwa and 3µ is roughly equivelant to the 8k Naniwa. Then you will need a REALLY flat and non flexing plate, thick enough to keep your fingertips out of the path of the razor. I like 1-1/2" thick cast acrylic sheet, 3" x 12", from TAP Plastics. Don't go thinner than 1". It is basically unbreakable and since the razor never touches it, it will never wear out or get out of flat. It's only enemy is high heat. As a bonus, you can use this and sandpaper to lap your 12k stone. Or try some 1µ film instead of 12k! There is finer film, namely .3µ, but give that a miss. Nobody really likes the edge from that grade. To go finer, lap and mount a piece of balsa, and rub in a very small amount of .5µ diamond paste, and then do a .25µ and a .1µ balsa. Don't stop at .5 or .25, it gives the same sort of edge as the .3µ film and you are better off stopping at 12k or 1µ than going on but not all the way to .1µ. half to quarter micron for some reason makes a "sick" edge somehow, but going beyond that mellows it back down so it is both comfortable and extremely sharp.

But there I go off topic again. My suggestion is either the 8k Nanny or 3µ lapping film but only of the correct type.

There are other stones that will "work", but sticking to the house brand will be super easy for you, ditto the film if you get the right stuff and not just whatever you find online. Lots of really bogus film out there. At least the Naniwa, if you get it with the box from a legit vendor, you know isn't fake.

Honestly though, for a simple refresh, the 12k should be all you need. Are you lapping it regularly? I really like that stone, myself, though I use film more often. The only stone in that style that I don't like is the 3k, which I find loads up badly and quickly for some reason. The 12k is a crazy easy finisher, IMHO. Just lap it regularly and you good. And THAT is another good use for an 8k. There is lapping, and there is lapping. Just from one razor to the next, a few slides of the stone across the 8k will clear the swarf and flatten both of them. Be sure to rinse the 12k super good afterwards to eliminate any stray particles of grit from the 8k. Then every once in a long while do a full bore high octane lapping on 600 grit wet/dry or whatever other media you like, followed by honing a SS chef knife or something to smooth the now flat stone a little.