Thread: Has anyone tried this for lapping?

I got into sharpening many years ago and have collected many different stones for sharpening anything from knives to my straights. Included are electric waterwheels, up to natural coticles, and everything in between.
I allways lap new stones, using a marker and drawing a square grid to ensure that I am even.
I started with the plate glass/ norton's wet paper method, stone to stone, etc.
One day i came up with what I have found to be the best method.
I went to a tile manufacturer, and bought a 12" x12" marble 5/8" thick tile that was "guaranteed" flat. then I took it to a friend at his machine shop where he checked it with a machine. Good and flat.
So, I went home, put a thin disk on my grinder and cut a shallow diamond pattern. This is for the water to flow and leave a "fresh" surface for my hones.
When it is time to flatten a stone, or hone, I sprinkle on some magic powder, get a spray bottle, and rub away.
I love it, it is the same affect as a lapping stone, with a much larger surface. It never wants to tip or rock, and super easy to clean.

Pretty cool idea! And dirt cheap to boot. Everything in this hobby is so expensive it's nice to see these alternatives to save some $! Well done!

Yup.

Loose Silicone Oxide on a steel cookie sheet works better, the slurry cuts faster.

Check out Hone Lapping 101 in the library. Many roads to Rome.

Welcome to the forum.

BY "MAGIC POWDER", I am referring to the silicone oxide.
Thanks for the welcome, but its really welcome back.
I have been a member since 2006, but took a leave when my daughter was born. now I'm back and have all of my stuff out and in use.

Not popular around here, but it is a known method for lapping stones. In Japan they have a ceramic or soft iron base called Kanaban, on which a series of grit powders are used for lapping. If there is a good place to do it it is great, too messy for me specifically. A less messy and more popular method is to slap some sand paper on a flat base and lap the hones this way.

Interesting idea, but I see visions of powder and water all over my floor.... I personally bought a certified flat piece of granite and use wet/dry paper to lap. Like you, I prefer a larger surface to lap my stones.

Steel cookie sheet.

Even if your granite or glass is flat loose silicone Oxide will make it not flat quickly.

When I am done lapping, I collect the coti liquid. Then evap off the water and use the coti dust with water for the next stone on granite.