Thread: Naniwas, Escher, & DMT Help me decide

Hello all,

I would like to be able to take razors from start to finish. Setting bevel, refining the bevel, and finish. I would also like to be able to hone out small chips if necessary.

I would like to compliment my vintage Escher. I also have a Balsa CroOx strop.

I would like to purchase 3 more hones, such as 1k, 5k, 8k Naniwa super stones or a DMT, & 3k, 8k Naniwas super stones or something on that line.

Should I enter a 12k into this?

Also should I purchase a Naniwa flattening stone or just a DMT?

Let me hear your combination suggestions an why.

I hope this is in the right section.

Thank you in advance. Feel free to PM me if you like.

You have chosen the stones I mainly use. I like the DMT D8C 325 continuous plate for lapping. I would go ahead and add the 12k. It is such a good stone. OTOH, with the Escher it might be redundant.

The problem with buying the Naniwas (and mind you I really like them) is that they absolutely positively need to be lapped regularly. If you are only lapping the Naniwas, then a DMT8C is just fine. I don't really care for your combo of DMT8C to 3k to 8k because I don't like the jump from 325 grit to 3k, but it would be better than your 1k to 5k to 8k option only because you have to have something to lap your Naniwas.

I realize that Lynn, end all and be all in advice, says that you can do 1k, 3k, 8k or 1k, 5k, 8k so obviously either of those will work but personally I am too anal about grit jumping. That is, I do 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k, 10k 12k progressions. I fully realize it is overkill but I justify it by using fewer strokes and figuring that the hones will last longer.

Back to you...

I've never used the Naniwa flattening hones, so I cannot comment on them. Either the DMT or the Shapton DGLP work great for lapping the Naniwas. I would assume the Naniwa lapper is competent given the quality of Naniwa hones. The 1k is fantastic for setting bevels so I highly recommend it. Others will probably soon comment on their preferences between 1k, 3k, 8k versus 1k, 5k, 8k. In a nutshell, I'd suggest that you buy 4 hones. Those being a lapping plate and a 1k and 8k, and either a 3k or 5k.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

You have chosen the stones I mainly use. I like the DMT D8C 325 continuous plate for lapping. I would go ahead and add the 12k. It is such a good stone. OTOH, with the Escher it might be redundant.

Agreed. My only reason for not recommending the 12k was that he only wanted to buy three hones (yet I'm recommending 4) and he already has an Escher to serve as a polishing hone.

Having the utmost for Ron's (Utopian) opinion on honing I'll tell you this. Lynn has posted that he uses the 1k, 5k, 8k, 12k. I use the 1k, 3k/5k in a pyramid and finish on the 8k. I then usually go 12k. So it is a question of what works for the individual. I agree with Ron that the naniwas should be lapped before each session.

I used to lap within the session to get rid of swarf as the hones may load up fairly quickly. Recently I have found that a fingernail bristle brush and running water take the swarf right off in most cases. So you pays your money and you takes your chances.

To do it with only three hones, I would say DMT-C, naniwa 3k and naniwa 8k - you'd have to set bevels on the 3k, but you really do need the DMT to lap, as said above. However, I would ideally recommend DMT-C, Naniwa 1k, Naniwa 5k, Naniwa 8k. With the DMT, you can get the 6 inch if you want to save some money. It's what I use, and it laps just fine, though it may take a little longer.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

However, I would ideally recommend DMT-C, Naniwa 1k, Naniwa 5k, Naniwa 8k.

Yup.

Three hones are hones are good. Four are better!

(Anything above a hundred begins to get suspicious!)

Originally Posted by Utopian

Yup.

Three hones are hones are good. Four are better!

(Anything above a hundred begins to get suspicious!)

Yea, given the need for a lapper, three is just not practical, IMO. Unless you were to use wet/dry sandpaper and a flat surface to lap. I've never done it that way because I think a DMT is so much easier and less expensive in the long run.

I will most likely be getting 4.

3 plus the lapper.

and also a loupe.

Five would be better.

Just kidding. Well, kind of.

If you are tight for money, you could get by with just the 3k and the 8k and the lapper. Of course the Naniwa lapping stone would be cheaper, though as I said before I have no experience with it. Anyway, you CAN set a bevel with a 3k, it just takes longer. That means that you could get by with the Naniwa lapper, the 3k, and the 8k. That would be your cheapest Naniwa option. The 1k is a fantastic hone but it really just a matter of how much time you are willing to spend setting your bevel. I have set a bevel with a Swaty, which is considered to be in the range of 10-12k. It just takes a very long time.