Thread: Preferred Side of Gokumyo 20k

It is a great stone, I agree, but there is nothing mystical or magical about it. It doesn't do any honing for you or make up for poor prep, sp please don't imagine that by buying one you will become a better honer overnight - aint gonna happen!

If your technique is good than you should get a great edge from any finishing stone once you get a feel for its characteristics. If your edge is not quite there than no finishing stone, the SG20k included, is going to make up for that.

In short, in the hands of someone who knows what he is doing it is a marvelous tool. In the hands of anyone else it is a bit of man-made rock.

Regarding the OP, I only use one side. With a set of Atoma plates it is easy to lap the hone to readiness, and I find no point in lapping both sides, especially as differential movement affects this stone a bit, like it does the higher grit choseras and shaptons, and super stones. No point in leaving something lapped if there is no guarantee that it is not going to be as flat as when you lapped it when you do come to use it. For this reason I always lap before honing and not afterwards.

As for the markings - sheesh, its just a tool, who cares whats written on it?!

Regards,
Neil