Thread: lapping a swaty

Hi,

I bought a used swaty. Generally it looks okay with some chipping. It has a some scratching like someone tried to do something to a knife point. I wanted to try lapping it out and chamfer the edges back.

My question is can I lap it against my norton set 220/1000 and 4000/8000? Doing most of the work on the 220 and smooth it out through 8000 or will 8000 not be high enough to finish the face? Or should I just junk it and look for a better swaty?

- Mike

For what it's worth, I never lapped mine and there is chips along the edges as well. Works fine for me when I use it...

It looks like the back side has already been lapped. Don't use your nortons to lap it unless you want to trash them. The 220 is way too soft to cut a Swaty. I would just chamfer the lower side depicted in the bottom photo. You can use sandpaper to accomplish that. Use the Swaty with the chamfered side toward your razor holding hand and the chips on the opposite side and they will have no effect. Also, don't worry about the gouges on the top surface. Since they are below the honing surface they will have no impact on the honing.

If you want to pay the freight I will lap it up for you,, No big deal on the DMT's that's the way I do mine...

PM me if yer interested

Ron and Nick are correct that they most likely won't make a difference but I know they would bug me...

Hi,

I think I'll just leave as is for now.

- Mike

I agree, the back looks good to go. Also looks like someone started on the front but didn't do much. The differences in colors is what makes me think that.

I'd say just use the back with the heal at the non-chipped edge.

And as Ron and Glen said - DMT's are the way to go; that would ruin your Nortons.

Hi,

Looking at the back and front the back looks ashy/lighter brown and the front look more even toned.

The back feels smoother too. Not that the front is rough but there is a difference.

- Mike