Thread: Best tool for lapping a Naniwa 12k

So I recently picked up a Naniwa 12k hone. I already lapped it with sandpaper but it was inconvenient. I am wanting to get some sort of tool for lapping that is quick and easy.

What is the best tool to lap this particular hone.?

I have read great things about the DMT D8C, for lapping stones such as the Norton 4k/8k, but my hesitation to buying this plate is I am worried about leaving rough scratches in this hone, OR wearing down the hone too quickly, and removing too much material off of the hone. The flip side of this is it seems the higher grit diamond plates (which would seem more fit for a high grit hone) are not fit for lapping hones since they will be stripped of their diamonds. What to do?

Also, even if their are scratches left on the 12k hone from a rough 325 grit diamond plate, will this really make any difference when it comes to honing?

And help and advice would be appreciated

DMT course is what people use, however there is easier and much cheaper way. 320 wet/dry sandpaper on a flat surface, or wrapped on a DMT plate if you already have one. The perfect flat surface would be a granite counter, ot tile.

Why would you wrap sandpaper around a DMT?

At Lynn's I lapped his Nani 12k SS with the Shapton GDLP or whatever it's called. When my Nani's arrive, I'll be lapping them with my DMTC; if they just need a quick surface refresh I'll rub them with my Spyderco Medium pocket sized. Any hard, fine, non-porous stone (like a barber's hone) can be used to refresh the surface of another hone (if the other hone is softer or also nonporous). If in doubt, test first for grit contamination.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Why would you wrap sandpaper around a DMT?

I forgot to mention my DMT is XXC therefore the whet/dry wrapped around it.

Any hard, fine, non-porous stone (like a barber's hone) can be used to refresh the surface of another hone

just make sure its lower grit than the stone you are lapping or it will not work very well

I have not found that the scratches left by lapping affect my honing (been doing it a lot lately on a mystery hone I've been playing with... since I have been using my XC to slurry it). If you find that they do you can always grab a 600 or higher grit sandpaper and wrap your DMT as Maina mentioned to remove the scratches after the rougher grit DMT levels the Naniwa.

Originally Posted by mainaman

just make sure its lower grit than the stone you are lapping or it will not work very well

Not so. I've lapped/removed scratches from/refreshed every stone I have ever owned with a Swaty.

Make sure it's harder. I'm starting to think that Swaty's are just diamonds cut into hone shape and painted brick.


:P

The Naniwa 220 grit flattening plate is recommended for their 2k - 12k hones so a DMTC shouldn't be too coarse providing its broken in. Just use a system like a pencil grid to tell when you're done to minimise wear on your 12k.