(for about the fourth time) I have a 3-line Swaty, and will be getting Nortons or the like. I will also be getting a German finisher (most likely Thuringen), but that will come lapped.
My question is, will I really need to lap the hones initially? the Swaty yes, but the synth workhorse hones? I don't think I will be using them too much, just an ebay razor now and then and light touch up on my own (probably achievable on the Swaty or Thruingen though)
So if I just sandpaper my way through the Swaty, will I need a lapping plate soon? Do factory hones need to be lapped? How often do you think Thuringens need lapping? The factory hones? In number of razors, and please consider that I am not aspiring to have a hone flat to .00000000001" every time I sit down to hone, I am saying the point where I NEED to lap.
Currently I'm looking at getting a 10x4 DMT X/C, but if I don't really need it, well, thats cash in my pocket.