Thread: jumped into hones

Well gonna try my hand at honing. I went today and bought some hones a Norton 4000/8000 a Norton lapping stone and a C12k from Guanngxi. I probably should return the lapping stone and get a 1200 grit stone instead. I could lap with wet sand paper. Do you think the lapping stone is helpful enough for the 27 bucks? I did not think of the 1200 grit till just after I left the store. So another 140 bucks to my latest hobby. Besides the soap i bought today but that is in the soap forum.

They're good stones. I'd keep the lapping stone, but it's up to you, unless you bring it back and get a DMT XX. That'd come in handy for lapping. The Chinese 12k is a hard stone, The Nortons are more forgiving...You can't use the lapping plate on the C12k...

Originally Posted by zib

The Chinese 12k is a hard stone, The Nortons are more forgiving...You can't use the lapping plate on the C12k...

Hmmm well that is something I did not think of. And after reading the Norton Lapping Stone info it too will eventually need to be flattened. Seems like wet sand paper 320grit makes more sense.

You'll be surprised at how versatile a DMT XXC is. It can lap just about anything you throw at it, including the Chinese 12k, which would be a real challenge to do with sand paper.

You'll cut your lapping time immensely with the DMT vs. sand paper.

Not to say that paper isn't a good option, as it does do the job, just slower than the DMT. But if it's a matter of using the money from the DMT (or other lapping stone) to get a 1k hone, then the 1k hone should probably take priority.

or get either a D8c or a D8F, which will set bevels and lap (i think)

Originally Posted by dnullify

or get either a D8c or a D8F, which will set bevels and lap (i think)

D8c is a bit to fragile for the C12k me thinks
You will need xc or xxc for that

So based on common opinion where is a good supplier for a DMT?

Originally Posted by janivar123

D8c is a bit to fragile for the C12k me thinks
You will need xc or xxc for that

+1. DMT states that the only plate they say will handle lapping useage is the XXC, but a lot of guys (myself included) get by with doing light lapping/polishing with the XC. The regular C can be used to put a final polish on a hone after lapping it with a coarser plate, but it really shouldn't be used for serious lapping at all.

Originally Posted by knightwolf

So based on common opinion where is a good supplier for a DMT?

Straight Razor Designs, Craftsman Studios, Tools For Working Wood, Chef Knives to Go (just ordered some hones from them. Great service, immediate free shipping, good prices) are all good spots to buy from. I try to order from Straight Razor Designs as much as I can.

so for cost affectiveness would a 220/1000 norton work as a a lap stone on the 220 side or is it to soft for the c12k? I believe it would lap the 4k/8k. Of course the 1k would need lapping as well and I would still need another way of doing that.

Nope, A 220 won't lapp the C12k, it's a hard natural stone, and Don't ever try lapping anything with A D8F, you'l ruin it...