Thread: A Discovery on lapping Shapton Pros and Naniwa Superstones YMMV

First of all I am rather anal about flattening my hones. I hone at the kitchen sink and start out with a DMTXX in a stone holder in the sink to support my Shapton GDLP. I'm too cheap to buy the Shapton stone holder and the XX supports the GDLP and raises it up a bit. If the grid shows the stone needs a lot of lapping I move the GDLP out of the way and get down on the XX until I'm almost there and than go back onto the GDLP.

I always draw a pencil grid on each of my Shapton pros, Nortons or Naniwas before beginning a honing session. I have found, for me, that my pros or superstones always need lapping before a session. The Nortons not always. This has to do with the polymer binder in the Shaptons and naniwas (maybe resin in the latter) changing from one day to another. This was revealed to me by forum member Blaireau who is a scientist in the field of polymers and the pencil grid proves to me that he is correct.

So what I used to do was lap each stone before I began honing. Sometimes this was a PITA and took awhile other times it went more quickly. What I've discovered is that if I spray the hone with water and let it sit for five or ten minutes the lapping time is considerably shorter. This is true of both the Naniwa SS and the Shapton pro IME.

I came up with this idea based on what I read here at this website. I don't know where they got their info because Shapton USA and Naniwa say don't soak the hones but it gave me the idea to let the water sit (I'm not soaking them) on the surface for a few minutes and I'm telling you now ..... the lapping is way easier. Give it a shot and see what you think.

That echoes my findings too, Jimmy, both on the swelling/shrinking of different areas of the shapton glass stones on a daily basis and on the softening effect of water on the matrix. Thanks for pointing it out!

Regards,
Neil

Thanks Jimmy!

Thanks for the tip Jimmy. I hate lapping but love the results and anything to speed up the process is a plus in my book!

Does it lap easier or do you just have to lap less? Maybe the water soaking into the resin "dewarps" it?

Originally Posted by Hydaral

Does it lap easier or do you just have to lap less? Maybe the water soaking into the resin "dewarps" it?

Dunno, but I think it softens the binder some and makes it easier. Less wear on the plate too if that is the correct interpretation.

But what would happen (speaking of the Naniwa SS) if you were to lap it as such, let it dry fully, spritz it again and go to work...should you expect as flat a surface as before when it was lapped while somewhat saturated?

Originally Posted by kwigibocity

But what would happen (speaking of the Naniwa SS) if you were to lap it as such, let it dry fully, spritz it again and go to work...should you expect as flat a surface as before when it was lapped while somewhat saturated?

I don't know. I have thought about that but I haven't checked with a grid and a plate. Some things are better left unknown. All I know is that the feel of the razor on the freshly lapped stone is better to me than if it is not lapped. I usually do two or three razors at a time since I'm lapping before every session. I also lap swarf off during the session if it builds .... and it does... I don't draw a grid for that but note the color of the surface. As I said in the OP, I'm anal about lapping so what I'm doing may or may not be necessary but it works for me.

Not quite the same technique but I find the same results to be true..
The Naniwa SS especially benefit from this, the Shapton GS also but not as noticable...

Start the process, fill sink or water pond with clean clear water drop in 1k stone.
Set up honing area get razors ready to hone (for me that means tape) get me ready to hone...

Take out 1k, and drop in next stone, do 10 figure 8's with lapping plate reversing stone after 5... Hone on that stone, do 10 figure 8's and set stone to dry.... Take next stone out of water, and repeat process by putting the following stone in water... Continue through entire honing progression leaving clean dry stones to put away ... OCD much???

kwigibocity,

Re: Naninwas keeping their flatness after drying & wetting:

Not on my experience; I find that the Naniwas need flattening every time I use them

After a while, it usually doesn;t take too long to flatten.

Have fun !

regards

Russ