Thread: 12,000 grit specialty stone

Good afternoon everyone

I’d like to ask a quick question for doing basic touchups.
I am going to purchase a Naniwa 12000 grit specialty stone for doing basic touchups on my razors. I would like to know if the Norton flattening stone for water stones wood work to flatten this 12,000 grit specialty stone.

Thanks Roger

The Naniwa is a good choice. As far as flattening it goes, buy the DMT 325 (coarse) also spend the extra $18 ea. and get two of the universal stone holder. Straight Razor Design has both at a very competitive price and quick shipping.

The Naniwa 12K Specialty Stone is a common finishing/refreshing stone for many shavers. Formerly, the Specialty Stone (3/8") and the thicker (3/4") Sharpening Stones were called SuperStones, so you will see SuperStone references frequently on this forum. Later, you may find you prefer natural stones for finishing, but the Naniwa 12K is a good place to start because it is consistent.

As for lapping, there are multiple choices. You can get a Naniwa or Norton flattening stone. You can get a DMT or Atoma diamond hone. Or if you want to save money, you can use Silicon carbide wet/dry sandpaper backed by a flat piece of granite that you can generally find at big box hardware store. There are two nice things about the sandpaper: it is available in a variety of grits and it is cheap enough to throw away when it is worn out.

When I first purchased my Naniwa hones, I purchased one of their lapping plates as well; but I never really liked it. If I have a stone that needs a lot of lapping, I will start with SiC paper and finish with an Atoma 1200. For stones that need only minor removal of material, the Atoma works well by itself.

Whichever method you choose for lapping, use plenty of water for lubrication and washing away the debris generated in the lapping process.

You can* use the Norton lapping plate, BUT the thing about them is...you have to flatten the lapping stone first before you can use it. And you have to keep the lapping stone flat with fairly regular lapping as well.

Sand paper on a reasonably flat backer will work. I used an old cookie tin and sand paper for a while. This is A-OK if all you do is the occasional touch up with your Naniwa 12K. However, if the honing bug bites you, you might end up like me - the local auto parts store knew me by name for how much of their 3M sand paper I was rifling through.

At that point, you're money ahead to do as Cuda suggested and buy the DMT. Needs a little bit of break in so it ain't so rough, scrub it lightly with a chisel for a few hundred laps to knock off the loose/tall diamonds. Comes dead flat, never needs re-flattening, and lasts a lot longer than sand paper. I've also seen the Chef Knives to Go 400/1000 diamond plate recommended often. It's got a lower price tag than the DMT, and as a bonus has 2 sides instead of just the 1.

Another lapping option is the Double Time lapping stone:

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/D...P1545C282.aspx

The 325 must be relieved of the high diamonds before use as a flattener/maintainer for the Naniwa 12k or any hone, for that matter.

Lots of threads here on that. Screwdriver shaft comes to mind!

You might do better. Might. I think it will do!

OK I am thinking about doing the sandpaper idea. What grit wet dry sandpaper should I get.

Thanks Roger

Originally Posted by k5MOW

OK I am thinking about doing the sandpaper idea. What grit wet dry sandpaper should I get.

Thanks Roger

Good quality 400 grit wet & dry, tape the corners with some masking tape to a marble food prep slab the ones you can buy from any retail outlet, plenty of water and away you go.

Originally Posted by k5MOW

OK I am thinking about doing the sandpaper idea. What grit wet dry sandpaper should I get.

Thanks Roger

I use 320. I glue it down and use it for a long time.

Wet\dry sandpaper on a piece of tile, glass or even a flat counter top will work since your not going to need to flatten the stone to much. Wetting the back of the sandpaper will hold it in place, but I've used double sided tape on the two long edges to hold it. The Naniwa stones are pretty easy to lap. The DMT can be expensive for occasional use, but if you start getting into bevel setting and that the diamond plates are invaluable. My Norton lapping stone sits on a shelf collecting dust since it takes more effort keeping it flat than it does to other stones.