Thread: Naniwa 12k feeling rough

Originally Posted by jhenry

Its either the DMT 325 or a Naniwa lapping stone.

I just imagined that the Norton and the Naniwa lapping stones were pretty much the same thing. Guess I was wrong on that one...

Is the DMT a good low-grit hone for razors as well, or do people mostly use them for lapping?

Originally Posted by RobertHardy

I just imagined that the Norton and the Naniwa lapping stones were pretty much the same thing. Guess I was wrong on that one...

Is the DMT a good low-grit hone for razors as well, or do people mostly use them for lapping?

The fundamental flaw of both the Norton and Naniwa lapping stones is that they need lapping too...

A DMT 325 is a do-it-all-must-have tool IMO, for lapping of course, but also for quickly taking out chips or bringing a old eBay special in line.

Well then it's settled! A DMT 325 it is!

One last question, should I wait until the DMT arrives to use my Naniwa 12k, or is it presumably good to go despite the fact that it feels rougher and is slightly discolored?

Thanks.

Everyone is right on the DMT it makes a great lapping plate can not beat it without spending a lot more $$$. One hint when you lap Superstones make sure you do it under running water it makes a big difference. You can use the Norton for now just do it under water. The D8C will make a big difference though.

Can't naniwas be lapped with some sandpaper? Norton stones also feel a little rough after the lapping plate because it's 220 grit. I finish the stones on wet dry paper. The lapping plate is durable but will sometimes deposit a little blue slurry, maybe this caused the discoloration?

You can finish them with higher grit wet/dry sandpaper, 400-1000 grit. I wrap the wet sandpaper around my DMT C and use it in the sink. The DMT gives you that flat surface. The Naniwa's create a good deal of swarf. It's good to lapp them under running water...

There is another possibility to consider. Let me describe what happens with my Naniwa 12K... I lap it, and it has a consistent color. As I use it, the swarf (fine metal particles removed from the edge) builds up on the hone. But, it doesn't always build up in a uniform gray film across the hone. Dark dots of accumulated swarf sometimes appear that get bigger and darker. When this happens, the honing efficiency decreases. It indicates that it is time to lap again.

It sounds like the dark dots appeared before honing. But, perchance you have honed a little, the dots might be a natural accumulation of swarf pattern. And, if you haven't honed (as it sounds to be the case) then ignore this message, and I will defer to the above comments.

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Can't naniwas be lapped with some sandpaper? Norton stones also feel a little rough after the lapping plate because it's 220 grit. I finish the stones on wet dry paper. The lapping plate is durable but will sometimes deposit a little blue slurry, maybe this caused the discoloration?

You can use sandpaper, but in the long run, you'll spend more money on it than if you had gotten the DMT. Should work fine for a short term solution, but cheap brands can sometimes leave grit embedded. Stick w/ Norton or 3M brands to avoid this.