Thread: Choosing a stone between 3k and 12k

Yous need 1,5,8,12 K. We would have told you that in the beginning...just have to ask the Pros ....

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Yous need 1,5,8,12 K. We would have told you that in the beginning...just have to ask the Pros ....

That really depends, doesn't it. If you're getting your blade with a good edge from a seller, then you can dump the 1K .... you can set a bevel with a 5K, it's just going to take a little longer (as long as it's not a messed up edge)

I would go with the 8K. I am currently using a 1K-3K-8K-12K progression and it works just fine for me.

I got the 1K because I was getting blades with chips and edge corrosion to fix up and it was faster than the 3K for that. It was cheap too in the scene of things and saved a lot of wear and tear on the 3k.

Bob

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Yous need 1,5,8,12 K. We would have told you that in the beginning...just have to ask the Pros ....

Though it is beyond the scope of the original question, I would recommend 1,2,5,8,12k.

However, since Lynn has repeatedly declared that he is fine with either 1,3,8,12k or 1,5,8,12k, i figure we should both defer to him and say the 3,8,12k would be just fine.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Though it is beyond the scope of the original question, I would recommend 1,2,5,8,12k.

However, since Lynn has repeatedly declared that he is fine with either 1,3,8,12k or 1,5,8,12k, i figure we should both defer to him and say the 3,8,12k would be just fine.

That's it in a nutshell...besides finding a honing mentor to show you how to use them.

If your 12k is man-made and not a "12k-ish", you don't need anything between them.
You could go for a 8k. Say, after the 3k you need 80-100 laps to bring the edge to the 8k level.
Give your razor another 100 laps on your 12k after the 3k instead (200 in total more or less YMMV), and you'll be more than fine, and have achieved the same thing without spending a penny.
Or get the 400, 1k, 2k, 3k, 4k, 5k, 6k, 8k, 10k, 12k, 13k, 15k, a Gokumyo, and a big Escher with a Kanayama strop just in case.

I have never attempted to go from a 3k to an 8k superstone but I think 100 strokes on the 8k is overkill. I know that 100 strokes on a 12k after an 8k is destructive. 10 to 20 strokes at most should be sufficient.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have never attempted to go from a 3k to an 8k superstone but I think 100 strokes on the 8k is overkill. I know that 100 strokes on a 12k after an 8k is destructive. 10 to 20 strokes at most should be sufficient.

You are right. I was trying to emphasize that, the difference between the 3k, 5k, and 8k before the 12k is the difference on the number of laps and, it's small. You can't go from 200 grit edge to a 12k edge with a single 12k stone, but it's very easy to go to 12k from a 3k stone/edge.

Ok, I tried it. I do not have 3K Super Stone, I do have a 5 and 12K Super Stones.

Today I picked up a Heljestrand MK 32 Razor with Ivory scales at a local flea market.

Actually my bride picked it up, the seller was asking $15 and my wife offered 10 and they settled on 12. All I did was pay. It had a little rust on the blade, looked like it had been put away wet, but the scales were pristine and very little hone ware on the spine.

I cleaned it up and lightly break knifed the edge because of the rust and light chipping.

I set the bevel on the 5k in about 100 laps from a light breadknife. After 20 laps on the 12k Super Stone half of the 5k stria was gone. I had honed the 5k with 90 degree strokes to the edge. 20 more angled stokes and all the 5k stria was gone. I did 20 more light, weight of the blade laps and the edge was straight and keen.

Stropped 20 on plain Poly Canvas and 50 on leather.

I was surprised at how quickly the edge came together on the 12K. I had an International Cutlery, Solingen Steel, “Diamond Steel” razor on the bench. I had been hand sanding the blade, just 600 and 1K and had lightly breadknifed the edge, as I normally do when sanding a blade, just a few strokes on a 1200 Diamond file to make a bit safer.

I decided to try a bevel set on the 12k with the Diamond Steel to see how many laps it would take. After 40 laps the bevels were flat and almost meeting, at 80 laps the edge was grabbing hair and almost set, still a bit jagged. I jointed the edge twice on the corner of the stone and gave it 40 more laps, the edge was set and straight, at 120 laps.

Stropped it on Canvas and leather.

I shaved with both, and both shaved well, the Heljestrand was smoother but the Diamond Steel still shave well and left no irritation, nothing 100 laps more on leather or some Chrome Oxide would not fix right up.

I knew the 12k Super Stone was aggressive, but I was impressed at just how, it really was.

Bottom line you can easily go from a 3k, or 5k I my case, to a 12k Super Stone. Try it.