Thread: Do I really need a lap stone?

Originally Posted by khaos

Sweet. If I can tolerate it, can I use the 120 for all the hones, or am I better off getting a finer grit sandblaster (ie the 120 will just eat valuable rock)?

What other hones are you lapping? I've found that the 120 is really better for heavy duty lapping. I saw you were looking at a thuringian and norton (assuming 4k/8k?). For the norton, I would lap them the first time on the 120 sandblaster, and then subsequent laps on ~600 grit w/d. For the thuringian, unless it's in pretty rough shape, head straight to the 400 w/d, then the 600 w/d (IME, they are soft and lap fast). If it's in rough shape, get it mostly there with the sandblaster, then head to the 600. The idea with the sandblaster is just to get you to an initial flatness and then you should never need it on the same hone again. Once the stone you're working with is flat with the sandblaster, move on up the grits.

I think by the time "subsequent laps" comes around I'll have a D8C. I have not yet decided between the Norton set and the Henckels set, but I guess thats much of a muchness. The Thuringen I'm getting from Kees is in new condition (its vintage though) and he is send it lapped. Good to know that I should only use high grits for it. How high should I go in the grit rating? stop at 600? Or should I smooth out on 800 or even 1k?

I don't think you need to break in the plate for lapping.

Your hones will do that quite readily.