Thread: To Lap a Lapping Stone...

let me see if i have this correctly...when you procure your first hone or set of hones, you must lap them with a lapping stone. but before you can do that, you have to lap the lapping stone? I've read that you can do this with a slate, tile, etc in order to do this, but how do you know if it is exactly flat or not? any recommended type of tile or granite?

thanks for all the support!

IIRC it is mainly the Norton Lapping stone that needs lapping. The DMC's are flat out of the box.

So it might just depend on what lapping plate you have. Good luck.

let's say the Naniwa one...

I don't have one of those (actually I don't have a lapping plate at all for my hone) so I am not sure but here is another thread that I just found that has a little more information.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...ing-plate.html

You can also use the search engine here to look up more info on the naniwa lapping plate. Someone else should come along with a better idea of what is going on then me soon.

I use the DMT 325 for lapping because I heard that soft lapping stones like the Naniwa may require lapping themselves when first purchased, and after occasional use.

Here is a good thread on the Naniwa Lapping Stone.

That tile technique is for lapping using sandpaper. Refer to the Wiki on Honing 101.

The DMT 325/1200 is all you need, I lap all my hones with that puppy and sharpen all my knives, tools etc with it. Just make sure to clean it off prior to lapping hones.

Originally Posted by Scookum

The DMT 325/1200 is all you need, I lap all my hones with that puppy and sharpen all my knives, tools etc with it. Just make sure to clean it off prior to lapping hones.

which side do you lap with? 325 or 1200?

edit* i saw that it was the 325 on the hone lapping 101

thanks!

I use both sides. When I lapped my new naniwas I used the 325 side, then I did a few strokes to smooth it out with the 1200 side. I don't hone alot but before I start I gives the stones a couple back and forths with the 1200 to make sure theres no bits of stuff on them.