Thread: Lapping Shaptons

Thanks all and especially Iceni for the UK perspective. I've taken a large tile and various grades of wet and dry to them today. A good job. Pencil marked to show the overall high spots and I'm pleased with the new look and feel. Result!

Originally Posted by Moggs

Thanks all and especially Iceni for the UK perspective. I've taken a large tile and various grades of wet and dry to them today. A good job. Pencil marked to show the overall high spots and I'm pleased with the new look and feel. Result!

I use a DMT 95 diamond lap. I don't don't use the pencil method. I Take a dozen or so rounds under a running hose, hold it up to the sky a lay a machinists straight edge to it. If the load is cleaned off it and I can't see any light under the straight edge checking in several directions, that's flat. Nothing wrong with a light pencil mind you. Just my preference.


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Thanks all. So I have my Dovo honed up to a fine edge - passes the hair test (OK, with only a little persuasion)! I have to practice the technique again though as it was very much trial and error. As the edge was not bad, I started on 4k, moving on to 8k but struggled with 16k as it felt quite gritty, undoing the work that I had done with the 8. Should I be going to 16k? Seemed a lot better with running water rather than a wash now and again. I found a better result by applying a little pressure at the edge of the blade. I would imagine that stropping is of no benefit immediately after honing (?) Time to find Lynn's DVD again I think!

I would certainly strop it after honing. Some folks even strop in between each hone.

Other, more experienced members will chime in. But IMO, there is no reason to not strop (as long as you have proper stropping technique...). Just remember to rinse & dry the blade after each hone, in order to prevent contaminating the strop with grit particulates. I know that there are several guys that actually strop between grits during their honing progression.

Speaking of grit contamination; did you lap the 16k? And if so, did you thoroughly rinse it before taking a razor to it? This may account for the gritty (some describe as gravelly) feel of the hone. It would also explain why/if the stria got BIGGER when you moved from the 8k to the 16k.

Just my $0.02. I hope this was helpful!

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

I would certainly strop it after honing. Some folks even strop in between each hone.

Dang it, Dave! Beat me by mere seconds!!!

Crawler, yes I did lap the 16k as part of some overdue maintenance. You have me thinking - did I rinse enough? Now I know to strop after blade maintenance - thanks all.

Might just be the wet and dry left a rough finish in the 16K and it needs a knife on it just to smooth it out. Just grab an old knife and do a few circles on the flat of the blade all over the stone and see if it goes back to normal.