Thread: What's Past 12K?

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Hmmm...looks like I might just have to (GASP) work hard to improve at using what I already have.

So much easier to buy a new toy than hone my skills on my present ones!

I do have the BBW/Coticule coming…something to play with anyhow...

Lawson I could have loaned you a coticule!

I used to use;

1. 16K Shapton
2. 30K Shapton
3. 0.25 micron diamond paste
4. 0.1 micron diamond film

Then there is the world of Japanese Naturals using Nagura slurry stones.

It will depend on your expections, where you will end up. Some guys like shaving off a Coticule....we are all different but the fact that you are asking is dangerous...very dangerous!


Take Care,
Richard

Originally Posted by Utopian

Lawson I could have loaned you a coticule!

Is that what they call a honing pyramid!!!! HeHeHehe nice one LOL

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Is that what they call a honing pyramid!!!! HeHeHehe nice one LOL

Yeah, but flipping it over is kind of a pain!

Or is it UtopiHAD.

'Wonderful collection.

I'd settle for just the skills it takes to USE them! Thx for posting.

Originally Posted by Bill S

The Ultrafine Spyderco is a synthetic that is somewhere past 12 K and it is relatively inexpensive. There are a few fans of this hone who love it for a finisher. I have one, but have never really gotten that friendly with it. I prefer the Shapton 16 and 30 as well as some of the naturals.

The Spyderco is a mixed bag.... some like it and some do not.
I spray mine with 0.5 micron diamond once in a while because
it is so darn slow. It is however finer than many of my barber
hones and works for a fine touch up.

I like my 12KSuperstone much better!

One good solution for beyond 12K is 0.5 and 0.25micron
on leather. Diamond or CeOx on leather work for me...

A spray of submicron stuff on plate glass is another option
but it will/ should cut faster than the same stuff on leather.

N.B. At about 8-10K all major standards slip off the edge.
If you stay with a single vendor finer is finer.... but if you switch
vendors matching hones into a sequence can be difficult
based only on the numbers.

I find that a coticule improves the feel of a 12k edge, even though its a lower grit. Give yours a try and see what you think! I use slurry with mine which I then dilute as I go.

Other than the Shapton 16k and 30k you're into natural stone territory. Charnley Forest stones seem to be 20k+ and some high end Japanese stones are 30k+. It really depends on how much you want to spend.

I lucked out totally with my J-Nat and snagged it from a member in the classifieds so its worth keeping an eye out there. I got my CF on eBay.

I did find that my natural stones rendered my pasted strops redundant! My pasted hanging strop is kept in the shave den for on the spot touch ups but other than that it never gets used.

Originally Posted by Shoki

Can you hone on a piece of glass with .25 micron diamond spray?

Sure - you can do it, but I wouldn't recommend it. The diamonds cut aggressively and it makes more sense to use something like hard felt as the substrate so that they can 'bed down' a bit and lessen the aggressiveness of the cutting action.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Utopian

Lawson I could have loaned you a coticule!

Good Grief Ron, I guess you could! I purchased...impulsively...next time I'll troll for a loaner before I buy!

Actually, I think that anyone who wants to have an appreciation for how honing was done in the old days should have a go at a coticule. They really are an entity unto themselves and are worth the effort for experimentation.