Thread: How often to lap a hone

My first hone is coming in today I got a NANIWA SUPER STONE 12000 GRIT IN STAND from SRD and I was wondering something. I know I need to lap the hone before I use it the first time, but how often between uses should I lap. I am just going to be maintaining my two razors nothing else in the immediate future. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

All I do is a few circles and ovals before each time I hone. I picked that up from Glen (gssixgun).

I basically lap mine or clean them after each use. It only takes a few seconds and then I am ready for a quick soaking and use the next time.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by wmac

All I do is a few circles and ovals before each time I hone. I picked that up from Glen (gssixgun).

+1. I do the same with all of my stones, except my PHIG.

I used to lap the Naniwas lightly when I used them.
Like stated above, just a few light circles with a 325 Grit DMT, just before honing.

On the superstones I like to spray a splash of water on the stone and let it sit for a few minutes before lapping. Same with the Shapton pros. I would for sure lap it when I first received it.

Thanks for all the quick responses, I had another questions I did not get a lapping plate so I am guessing I will have to use a new sheet of sandpaper each time i need to lap?

Originally Posted by swimlikehell

Thanks for all the quick responses, I had another questions I did not get a lapping plate so I am guessing I will have to use a new sheet of sandpaper each time i need to lap?

Yes that is the ticket. Here is a tutorial Josh Earl did on it awhile back.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ing-101-a.html

Originally Posted by wmac

All I do is a few circles and ovals before each time I hone. I picked that up from Glen (gssixgun).

Yep, preventative maintenance is always the best. Just make sure the stone is dead flat in the first place and that's all you'll ever need to do for the life of the stone.

I learnt this with plane and chisel blades, flattening after many uses takes a very, very long time; even on the softest of stones like the king and lobster brands!

If you've had a long session like a bevel regrind, i'd suggest having a good flattening session after that, otherwise it should be fine to do it before each hone

Originally Posted by swimlikehell

My first hone is coming in today I got a NANIWA SUPER STONE 12000 GRIT IN STAND from SRD and I was wondering something. I know I need to lap the hone before I use it the first time, but how often between uses should I lap. I am just going to be maintaining my two razors nothing else in the immediate future. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

+1 to the previous posts.

I might change the question from "How often" to "Toward what purpose".

There are two general purposes for lapping a hone.
One is to lap it flat.
Two is to clean the surface.

If you are honing in a progression or pyramid
flat is a very good thing. Flat hones are the best way
for the finer next hone to see the same steel
that the last hone worked on. A flat geometry
or close to flat geometry is important as you
switch hones. And also if you have many
razors. The consistent geometry just makes
life easy and flat is an easy geometry.

The cleaning of the surface is another reason.
As you hone a razor, both the hone and the razor
give up material that clogs the surface and complicates
the ability of the hone to do its job.

So if you get in the habit of lapping the thinnest
bit from your hone each time, (Think half the thickness of
a sheet of paper.) you will accomplish both.

I forget who has a signature that reminds us that
the old timers were not too concerned with
lapping their hones flat. They would use variations
in honing strokes to adjust for the shape of the
hone as much as the smile or frown (shape) of a razor.

The Naniwa (unlike the Nortons) does not need
any special first time lapping. Just lap it
flatter and clean.

Splash water on the hone and give it a couple figure
eight wipes with a DMT and then begin to refresh
your razor. Take advantage of the slurry the
lapping leaves behind. After ten or twenty hone strokes
begin to dilute the slurry so the last ten hone strokes
are just clear water on the hone. You can dilute quickly or
in steps.

Naniwa hones do seem to soak up water in
odd ways. As they do the surface changes from flat to
slightly wavy and then even back to flat. If you chase flat
attempting perfection you may never get perfection.
So just splash the surface, rub it with your palm, rinse,
give it a couple light figure eight laps and use it.
It will even out as you find a rhythm to the process.

Do watch Glen's (gssixgun) videos on youtube he shows
a couple different hone strokes. You can use circles
on the higher bits of your hone to even the wear on the
hone and razor. You can use the back and forth Japanese
strokes to speed up steel removal a bit without growing a burr.
Do note the deliberate light finish strokes at the end to perfect the edge.

I might comment, but risk a big discussion in doing so, that with two razors
and a Na12KSS you can almost ignore lapping flat for maintaining
them. Just let them dish out slightly over time. The saddle shape
the hone will develop in a couple years will build a fine micro bevel and
eventually match exactly the contour of your razors. This falls apart
when you get more hones or more razors but just maintaining two razors with
a Na12kSS lapping flat is almost a don't care. I say this because one
of the DMT credit card size hones can be used to keep the surface
clean, flat enough at the same time that it also generates a light slurry.

The NANIWA SUPER STONE 12000 GRIT is a deluxe hone... enjoy.