Thread: The usual hone questions from a rookie honer

Originally Posted by chapman

Vasilis - I can't find anything on the samurai stones either I'll post a pic when I get home see if anyone else knows anything about them. when using the sandpaper would it be better to soak the stones and use the sandpaper wet or keep the stones dry and use the sand paper dry? And as of right now I'm not planning on getting a finisher for a while until I am more than skilled enough on the stones I have. I just plan on using the CrOx after honing to smooth it out a little.

Thanks for the video link tack! I've watched so many of those I feel like now and feel I have a good grasp on what to do when I start. Fingers crossed cuz one of my razors is starting to pull really bad now that it hurts a little haha

There is not a big difference if you use the sandpaper with the stones soaked wet or dry. I usually prefer the stones to be dry, because there are some naturals that can't get flat when wet. And it became a habit, plus it's less messy. Make sure to wash and rub them with your hand, to remove any loose particles, after.

Originally Posted by Vasilis

There is not a big difference if you use the sandpaper with the stones soaked wet or dry. I usually prefer the stones to be dry, because there are some naturals that can't get flat when wet. And it became a habit, plus it's less messy. Make sure to wash and rub them with your hand, to remove any loose particles, after.

How so you ensure the lapping ends up being level? Do you just put the sandpaper on the table and scrub away or do you mark the top of the stone with a pencil?

An easy way to see if the stone is flat, is, place a ruler or something else flat on the stone, and, if light or water passes between the stone and the ruler, the stone needs lapping.
Yes, make some lines on the stone with the pencil, and lap the stone until the lines disappear. It helps a lot.

Originally Posted by chapman

How so you ensure the lapping ends up being level? Do you just put the sandpaper on the table and scrub away or do you mark the top of the stone with a pencil?

As you state initially, every question you have - has been asked and discussed here, sometimes more than once even.

Welcome and feel free to look around and read up. Congrats on the stones, they might be quite wonky with him never leveling them. Grid and remove. I do more than one grid on new or "over worked" stones.

You'll want as flat a surface as possible to mount your sandpaper. Glass or granite is very good, less perfect things can work. Grind two bricks together and you'll get a flat surface where they meet, eventually.

Here is how you lap a stone with a leveling tool such as DMT or other lapping plate:

Originally Posted by WadePatton

You'll want as flat a surface as possible to mount your sandpaper. Glass or granite is very good, less perfect things can work. Grind two bricks together and you'll get a flat surface where they meet, eventually.

Thanks for the response! I've been doing my best to search and find all my answers there's just so many different places to find information it's pretty great but a little overwhelming I have a good chunk of granite to do the lapping on so that's good to know!What would be the best way to stick the sandpaper on the granite so it doesn't move?

You'll want wet/dry sandpaper, and it will stick fairly well just being wet. Sometimes the answers "pop up" when you start doing these things.

Yes information overloadus maximus is the standard thing these days. That's why you'll find very specific "wiki" or other such reference areas at many forums. If you haven't seen it, ours is: Straight Razor Place Library - Straight Razor Place Library


I recall back when the information highway was a dirt road.

Originally Posted by chapman

Thanks for the response! I've been doing my best to search and find all my answers there's just so many different places to find information it's pretty great but a little overwhelming I have a good chunk of granite to do the lapping on so that's good to know!What would be the best way to stick the sandpaper on the granite so it doesn't move?

Always check the SRP Library.
Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Library

Another alternative to the DMT 325 is the Atoma 1200 diamond plate. Use the sandpaper for heavy lifting e.g. first flattening then move to the Atoma. The 1200 will be plenty for everyday lapping on everything 4k & up & will be closer to the flatness of a DGLP Shapton plate than some of the DMT's I've used.

Alright I figured out what the Samurai stone is. It's actually a japanese King waterstone. From what I've gathered these tend to be slower cutting stones but very nice stones nonetheless. It just says Samurai on the box so thats what I assumed it was. Thanks again for all of the links and advice guys!