Thread: Spyderco UF and the lapptig debate

I have a Spyderco UF I wanted to start experimenting with a bit.
I was curious if anyone has actually done any tests with a lapped vs unlapped UF?

Searching threads here and other sites, I have seen claims one way or another,but no actually evidence.

I know spyderco says not to lap and you probably void your warranty by doing so. I really have no desire to lap this either.

I have lapped my UF all I can say is that I'm unsure that diamond is the hardest material anymore. It is made by spyderco. Pretty soon people will be purchasing these to wear as jewelry.
Seriously though this is the first stone I have lapped and decided to lapp progressively finer. I tried just off my 325 and it was rougher than new so I lapped on progressive diamond films ($$$) and finally decided that it was a waste of time and money. It wasn't that far off to begin with so I don't see any reason to do it.
Noit really experimentation, but there you go.

I partially lapped mine..... from this I learned two things. First, the UF wasn't even close to flat. Second, it's not worth the effort to try and lap it. I understand that Spyderco uses the same (or a very similar) abrasive compound for all the hones in this line. For that reason I can see why they don't want you to lap off the texture on the more abrasive hones. With the UF I would conjecture that you might make it a UUF with lapping but don't know if that's a bad thing, which brings us back to the original question.

I don't really have an answer, but if you want, I'll send you mine and you can experiment with it.

Good luck lapping that baby, let me know how it all went when your done next year.

I had "high points" on mine that Randy then smoothed out with the non-work side of his own UF. He chamfered the edges, too. I lapped mine by running razors over it to practice honing casually with my highest grit stone and realized that the edges weren't catching on the high points. Now it hones razors to very acceptable sharpness (for my face).

I bought the set of three second hand from a former member here. He had lapped one side of each. I personally couldn't get anywhere with any of them on one side or the other. When I sold them in the classifieds I included the above info in the description. I'm not knocking the stones. I know some guys like them and get good results with them but I wasn't one of them. I've since read that if you lap a UF you end up with a Fine. I don't know if that is accurate but I read it on the Internet so it must be true.

Well, I lapped both sides of mine before I could test anything quite a while back. I can tell you that there is a different feel to the unlapped and the lapped stones. Lapping isnt that bad with a DMT 220 or lower plate, I lapped the second UF side when I got a 220 and was shocked by how easy it was, at least compared to SIC grit on marble. That took like 2 seasons of 24--though I did take some breaks.

I think the myth is lapping a fine gives you a UF. I'm not sure I buy it, they feel different than each other. I actually could test this one, now that I think about it.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I have a Spyderco UF I wanted to start experimenting with a bit.
I was curious if anyone has actually done any tests with a lapped vs unlapped UF?

Searching threads here and other sites, I have seen claims one way or another,but no actually evidence.

I know spyderco says not to lap and you probably void your warranty by doing so. I really have no desire to lap this either.

Some come smooth and flat from the factory. Mine did not.

Once you lap or worry it flat it needs to see a lot of steel to polish it down.
i.e. If you lap it it will act a lot like the grit of the last lap for a longish time.
This bit is a pain to deal with IMO.

Once it is settled in it will hone like a slow but fine
barber hone. Perhaps better than a lot of barber hones
AFTER it has self polished itself.

A superstone is a better buy/choice for razors.
A Spidy hone is hard and OK for knives
and chisels that might dig into fine water stones.

I tried to lap the bottom side of my UF. Was I successful? Don't now.
I bought a Boker from Pete S and it shaved like fantastic. When I asked him how he finished it, he said he used FeOx .1 micron on a Spyderco UF. He was kind enough to send me some FeOx .1 micron powder and I tried to duplicate his finished edge on a UF. Close but no cigar. Very decent shave though.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

I tried to lap the bottom side of my UF. Was I successful? Don't now.
I bought a Boker from Pete S and it shaved like fantastic. When I asked him how he finished it, he said he used FeOx .1 micron on a Spyderco UF. He was kind enough to send me some FeOx .1 micron powder and I tried to duplicate his finished edge on a UF. Close but no cigar. Very decent shave though.

Find a block of steel and worry the heck out of your Spidy. Use a very light hand. You can start
the ball rolling with a nagura. Once the Spidy gains a polish add a touch of the 0.1micron
and polish a bit more... Then finish hone a razor or two.