Thread: Cheap Bevel Setting stone/Lapping stone

Originally Posted by markdfhr

Actually it doesn't say, but both sides feel rougher than the 4K side of my Norton.

I also bought some wet/dry sandpaper and a 12"x12" piece of marble tile from The Home Depot. It's very, very flat. How would this compare to a DMT stone for lapping?

That's a good lapping solution. If you know someone who has a tile cutter you can trim down the tile so it's easier to work with it in the sink--lapping often needs running water.

The Home Depot hone will be orders of magnitude coarser than your Norton 4k. I'd use it for only the most abused razors, and to sharpen lawn mowers and cold chisels. I've got one of them, and it's not allowed in the house. I'm afraid it would bully the other hones for being a bunch of pampered sissies.

Originally Posted by roughkype

lapping often needs running water.

Another good idea, thanks.

I have my home depot hone on top of my other hones. I thought I heard whimpering coming from over there.

Yeah, you'll have to replenish their lunch money.

Isn't this stone a bit harsh? Have you considered microchipping and/or the harsh edge that would be left behind by this?

Originally Posted by TZee

Isn't this stone a bit harsh? Have you considered microchipping and/or the harsh edge that would be left behind by this?

Hi Tzee,

Normally I probably would have no use for this stone from Home Depot. I probably will do my stone lapping on my marble tile with sandpaper. I figure the only blades I hone will be for me. At least I plan to start slow and easy.

However, I did purchase a probable pos blade on ebay because I thought it looked cool. It's got stainless steel scales and a stainless steel blade and a "second bevel" that's probably 10-20 degrees steeper than the first. In other words, it's far from shave ready and probably will never be a good razor. Heck, the scales on it make it so its unwieldy, very off balance.

So this is going to be my experiment-with blade. I've a good Loupe on the way so that I can learn to inspect my work visually. I'll try to reset the bevel and keep an eye out for irregularities such as chips and crumbling metal as I work my way up to and through my norton 4/8K to my Thuringian stone. I don't claim it's a true Thuringian because I barely qualify as a newbie when it comes to stones, but it's very hard, smooth as glass, and looks like others I have seen pictures of.

I figure my attempts at making this blade shave ready will take me to school. I'll make plenty of mistakes. I may run into the issues of micro-chipping that you mention. Hopefully my loupe will give me a shot at troubleshooting these kinds of issues.

I think this is going to be fun.

If you want a really cheap bevel setting stone, I would get a norton 1000 or a king 800 or 1000.

The King red bricks of the 800 or 1000 type should be about $20, and can be flattened very well just with wet and dry sandpaper. They'll leave a much nicer finish than an unknown oil stone, one that can be worked easily with a norton combo or any other polish stone.

They're a bit soft, but flattening them is so easy it doesn't matter.

Originally Posted by DaveW

If you want a really cheap bevel setting stone, I would get a norton 1000 or a king 800 or 1000.

The King red bricks of the 800 or 1000 type should be about $20, and can be flattened very well just with wet and dry sandpaper. They'll leave a much nicer finish than an unknown oil stone, one that can be worked easily with a norton combo or any other polish stone.

They're a bit soft, but flattening them is so easy it doesn't matter.

+1 for the King brand stones. I have the 250/1000 combo, the 4k and the 6k. I use one side for my razors and the other for kitchen knives and tools. They were very inexpensive, but they do a clean, consistent job. I've seen the stone that's been discussed here at Home Depot, and it makes me nervous because it is among files, rasps and hammers. The chisels aren't even close to it, as they're at the far end of the aisle. When it comes to something as precise as a razor blade, stick to a known performer. It's not such a good idea to experiment with unknowns when your face is at stake.