Thread: Finally joined the Coti Club

Synthetic stones such as shaptons and naniwas, that have a polymer base can move with changing humidity, temperature and so on. They may bow in the center slightly or curl on the ends and such between honing sessions. Before a honing session I check with a pencil grid and when the grid is removed I consider them flat. With naturals I don't do it as much but I do when I intuitively feel the stone needs it. Feel it through the razor on the hone I mean. Just IMHO.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Synthetic stones such as shaptons and naniwas, that have a polymer base can move with changing humidity, temperature and so on. They may bow in the center slightly or curl on the ends and such between honing sessions. Before a honing session I check with a pencil grid and when the grid is removed I consider them flat. With naturals I don't do it as much but I do when I intuitively feel the stone needs it. Feel it through the razor on the hone I mean. Just IMHO.

Yeah, but not all of us are doing the sheer amount of honing/razors per session as guys like you, Jimmy

Ryan is actually right, they don't need lapping...

I do 5 figure 8's with a DMT 325 before I start honing on just about every hone so I always start with a clean fresh surface... BUT you don't even need to do that little bit...
Jimmy is also right the Naniwa SS, and Shapton GS can be slightly off when you first wet them BUT if you wet them when you start honing on the previous stone they will be even by the time you get to them...IOW toss the 3/4k in the water when yer honing on the 1k and yer fine... Don't take my word for it try it yourself... I still do 5 figure 8's on each of those too...(Jimmy I don't know if it works on the Shapton Pro's)

But honestly you don't need to