Thread: 12K Stone Thoughts

Thanks Celt. I've already added it to my Xmas list.

Naniwa also make a 10mm thick 12k that’s about $50. A friend has one and likes it. But I’d glue it to a lapped flat piece of tile (~1 at a hardware store) or a piece of plate glass given the thickness.

Originally Posted by Steve56

Naniwa also make a 10mm thick 12k that’s about $50. A friend has one and likes it. But I’d glue it to a lapped flat piece of tile (~1 at a hardware store) or a piece of plate glass given the thickness.

Cool, good tip. Is it because it is fragile or to get it off the table/better grip?

I have one of the stone holders that my diamond plate came with that should fit it. I wonder if that would be enough support for it? If not, I have some tile. Just have to figure out a way to cut it. Crecentcityrazors has a source for cut to fit plexiglass, too.

Originally Posted by planeden

Cool, good tip. Is it because it is fragile or to get it off the table/better grip?

I have one of the stone holders that my diamond plate came with that should fit it. I wonder if that would be enough support for it? If not, I have some tile. Just have to figure out a way to cut it. Crecentcityrazors has a source for cut to fit plexiglass, too.

Thin stones are easier to snap if dropped etc. The base gives some support. Same reason 5mm Shapton GS have glass bases.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Thin stones are easier to snap if dropped etc. The base gives some support. Same reason 5mm Shapton GS have glass bases.

Sometimes it is the most obvious answer that eludes me. Thanks.

I've also heard about the 10mm stones warping. Because of this, I felt it would be worthwhile to buy the 20mm stone.

Originally Posted by joelkerr

I've also heard about the 10mm stones warping. Because of this, I felt it would be worthwhile to buy the 20mm stone.

According to Keith Johnson he had problems with both thicknesses warping. He didn't like my solution of gluing the 10mm to a tile to stop the warping, but that is why I did it and it works for me.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Thin stones are easier to snap if dropped etc. The base gives some support. Same reason 5mm Shapton GS have glass bases.

You mean that it isn’t Shapton wanting stone prices for plate glass? Lol.

Shapton Glass stones are a good system, just pricey.

Originally Posted by Steve56

You mean that it isn’t Shapton wanting stone prices for plate glass? Lol.

Shapton Glass stones are a good system, just pricey.

Same with J Nats, plus all the Naguras.

Boy am I late to this party. Lot of interesting stuff, good advice and varying opinions but all worthy. I don't have a 12K naniwa so I have no knowledge of comparison for it. My 12K Sharpton is a pretty smooth stone but you have to be careful about soaking that very much or it will craze (also it is helpful to learn to speak Japanese). Mine started to craze a little but fortunately the fissures don't really affect it. I found that a good hard ark takes the bite out of the 12k pretty well but then I don't really use it much these days. I haven't used it much since I ventured into arks. In fact I haven't used much of anything since I've ventured into arks. My water stones always dried on the edge and spent most of their time on the edge of the tub drying out thoroughly so they never went back in their boxes until I got the ark jones. I have just recuperated enough from my hand injury to start honing again so I pulled them back out just because I don't quite have enough dexterity to stay with the amount of laps needed for arks. I haven't ventured into jnats yet. My venture into arks cost me enough so far and quite frankly I got a little scared of poverty looking at jnats knowing the kind of bottomless pit you can fall into with any kind of natural stones.
I would really encourage you to learn to palm your stones, regardless of what they are. It makes you learn how to keep the stone steady and avoids putting too much pressure on the toe. Even though you think you're not leaning on the toe with your finger you still are. I look back now at razors from my collection that I haven't used for a long time and I can see them starting a frown from leaning my fingers on top of the bevel. It makes me sad to think about it. Looking back is quite a lesson though. Someone mentioned narrow stones which I have found I really like, especially if you have an uneven bevel or a warp. I have a Pike translucent slip stone which is wedge-shaped and both the fat and the narrow end are rounded. I use the wider heel of the stone to finish with sometimes because it hones such a narrow swath of the edge.It's a way to avoid all of the rocking or corner honing or stacking tape yada yada yada.