Thread: Do I need an 8000 grit stone?

I already have a Norton 1k/4k stone and a Japanese 6k stone that I use for sharpening knives and woodworking tools, and I recently bought a Naniwa 12k to keep my razors sharp. After reading lots of threads about honing it sounds like most people use a Norton 4k/8k to hone their razors and I can't help feeling like I have a gap in the 8000 range. Should I buy a Naniwa 8000, or get a Norton 4k/8k combo stone specifically for razors, or can I just go straight from the 6k to the 12k.

On a related note, I have several DMT stones that I use for sharpening knives and lapping waterstones, but they are the kind with the holes in the surface. Should I get one with a continuous surface to lap my higher grit stones?

An 8000 would be a better way to progress from the 6k to the 12k.


Mick

The dmt with the interrupted surface .... holes ..... will do fine for lapping waterstones but use a 325 or coarser ...... according to the manufacturer .... or risk ruining the diamond plate.

A jump from 6k to 12k is probably alright but I would suggest you add a single grit 8k instead or a 4/8. I have a single grit 4 and a single grit 8. They are 1" thick and will probably last the rest of my life if I live to be a hundred. The 8k doesn't need to be soaked and I find that convenient. With the 1" thickness if the need arises you can turn the stone up on edge and work with it on warped or seriously smiling blades. I would recommend the 4/8 if you didn't have the 1/4 but since you already have a 4k the single grit 8 makes sense to me.

From my pov, a 4K/8K just for razors makes sense. I also have the 1K/4K stone, which I use for setting bevels and occasionally knives. The 4K/8K stone is used solely for razors. This way, my razor hone doesn't need much in the way of lapping. After each use, I just clean the surface with my DMT plate.

For me, it is a matter of convenience to have my razor workhorse hone always ready for use without much maintenance.
The 1K/4K sees more use and more wear.

Of course, this only makes sense if you regularly hone knives and razors. Otherwise having multiple hones is not much of a benefit compared to the extra cost.

blackskorpion,

I have same set up as you and between 6k and 12k I`m using SWATY hone (maybe it is crazy for many of you honing masters) in sequence of :after 6k 5-6 passes on SWATY then C12k back to SWATY 3 passes and Ck12 and one pass SWATY rest on C12K. Works fine for me, even getting pretty good shave but... I want to get 8K as I am progressing with honing and learning more and more I do realize need of 8K(sorry I guess last part of my expose didn`t help you answer on your question).

If I were going to get a norton setup today I would get the 1/4 and the 8k. If you are planning on using the 1/4 for razors anyway, and you really want to add a stone then that's my advice. Maybe just try first with what you have?

Michael

peoples experience seems to be that you can do it with what you have.. so start with that.. you should be fine.. if you have HAD then its up to you if you get an 8k, or maybe even something else.

You can go from 6 -> 12 but you will work your 12 a bit harder that way. Throwing in an 8 you can reduce the strokes on the 12. Probably not an issue if you own only a couple of razors.
I imagine you have to lap the 6k a bit if it's used on knives a lot ?

You could try a bit of slurry on your 12k, but that would add to the wear on the stone, up to yourself really