Thread: Grit skip?

I have a 1k and a norton 4/8k stone and I'm looking for a finisher. Would skipping the 12k step and going straight to something like 15k be ok? Time is not really a huge issue. This is my relaxation hobby so if the only problem is that it will take a little extra time that's fine. Just not five hours or something outrageous like that.

Thanks

You will be perfectly fine with the 15k after an 8k. Technically you could go straight from a 1k to a 15k, you'd just have to spend more time on the 15k.

The 12k is a finisher in it's own right and has many followers here. If you are talking about the Shapton 15k as a finisher it is my least used stone on carbon steel. For me it is at it's best with stainless and other alloys but never look for it for finishing razors although it might be great.


Edit: the jump between 8k and 15k is not much as you might think. I can easily go from 8k to 30k shapton and it does not take long at all. Matter of fact, if it does something more should have been done on the lower grits.

I've just been looking at some stones on ebay. The guy that sells the set of three including the "dragons tongue". He sells his 12 and 15k equivalents for nearly the same price and so I thought I'd skip the 12k. I know everything on here is mostly opinion but that's what I'm after so give me your 2 cents.

Originally Posted by bmilesmiles

I have a 1k and a norton 4/8k stone and I'm looking for a finisher. Would skipping the 12k step and going straight to something like 15k be ok? Time is not really a huge issue. This is my relaxation hobby so if the only problem is that it will take a little extra time that's fine. Just not five hours or something outrageous like that.

Thanks

After the Norton 8K you should be able to shave just fine.
Anything after that will (for me) be smoothness and comfort.

In the 10k-15k range it can be difficult to tell one from another.

If you have a true 15k and want to follow an 8k consider letting
it dish a little bit to get the advantage of a micro bevel. Not so
much that that a feeler gauge made from a pop top starts looking
for company. With a very light touch the micro bevel will set in
five or 10 hone strokes.. (or add a single layer of tape).

I said "true 15k" because some of the Chinese hones are being marketed
as 12k and also 15k. As natural hones they can vary a lot 6k-16k.
They are also hard enough that the last lapping grit can be reflected in how
it hones. My Chinese 12k needed a solid rubbing with a steel bar to
calm it down after lapping flat. I now use a rubbing stone to lightly
remove swarf.

Originally Posted by bmilesmiles

I have a 1k and a norton 4/8k stone and I'm looking for a finisher. Would skipping the 12k step and going straight to something like 15k be ok? Time is not really a huge issue. This is my relaxation hobby so if the only problem is that it will take a little extra time that's fine. Just not five hours or something outrageous like that.

8k to any finisher is fine & should not be a lengthy process.
Considering that the razor should be shave ready at 8k, "extra time" on any finisher will be a futile exercise.

Originally Posted by bmilesmiles

I've just been looking at some stones on ebay. The guy that sells the set of three including the "dragons tongue". He sells his 12 and 15k equivalents for nearly the same price and so I thought I'd skip the 12k. I know everything on here is mostly opinion but that's what I'm after so give me your 2 cents.

Natural stones are not 15k

Those numbers people use are downright deceptive including the 12k Chinese and the 50k J-nat as Nifty pointed out there is much more to naturals and how they work

Now back to the original question Yes you could go from an 8k to a "Real" 15k no problem IF you have a shave ready edge at 8k

Note the big if

You can go to those Welsh hones easily

Just out of curiosity, what experience do any of you have with these stones and how close do you think his estimates are in regard to actual grit?
NATURAL WELSH SLATE TRI HONE RAZOR SHARPENING STONE SET OF 3 HONES | eBay

Originally Posted by bmilesmiles

Just out of curiosity, what experience do any of you have with these stones and how close do you think his estimates are in regard to actual grit?
NATURAL WELSH SLATE TRI HONE RAZOR SHARPENING STONE SET OF 3 HONES | eBay

I used this set last night and got great shaves of the two razors I honed (including a very smooth 'fools pass')
I went straight from my 3K synthetic to the Dragons Tongue with slurry diluting to plain water, then to the LM, again with slurry diluting to water, then the dark slate (same, same), 60 laps on linen and 80 on leather, then shave.
I changed my honing regime this time and left out the 8K synthetic (I'm not sure that it is a true 8K 'cause it leaves a lot of scratches as compared to an 8K naniwa)
I don't worry too much about the grits, as such, I just know that each one is finer than the last.
Lovely feeling from both blades - very comparable to the edge from my Thuringian that I honed the other razor I tested last night.
Hope this helps