Thread: Naniwa Flattening Stone

I'm new to straight razor shaving, about 3 months now. I've just bought my first set of hones. They are Chosera 1k, SS 3k, 5k, 8k and 12k. I also purchased the NANIWA Flattening Stone Grain size 220. It's a huge thing, measuring 12x6x¾". It looks really course and although the instructions are in Japanese, it says to sprinkle the silcon carbide powder on it to speed up the process. I have also purchased this grey powder.

Before I start lapping my 'brand new' stones, I was hoping that someone may have some experience with this setup. Should the stone just be lightly wet as like honing? How much lapping is generally required, before every use or less? I'm assuming firgure of 8 motion but would love to hear if anyone else uses it. There is nothing on you-tube regarding this trueing stone. Do brnad new stones even require lapping and this stone looks like its so course I will take a lot off.

As of now, I've not honed any razor yet. I'm not wanting go straight into bevel setting etc, just taking things easy, step by step. I've got a shave ready razor that is just starting to go dull, so will try a few laps of the 8 then 12K stones and see how I get on. Here are some pics of the stone from the web.

Looks like a norton lapping stone, the norton lapping stone requires lapping itself to keep it flat, so you will eventually have to lap that thing as well. A person is better off just using a DMT 325 bench plate for lapping. They are flat and stay flat and don't require lapping.

Lapping is done with water. Scribble a bunch of pencil lines up and down your stones, then start rubbing them on the lapping stone. Keep at it till the pencil lines are gone. Then repeat. It shouldn't take too long to lap the stones.

1. I'd soak the stones for a few minutes before lapping them

2. For the initial lapping you need to lap until flat. Make a pencil grid on the stone, and lap very evenly until it's gone. You can repeat if desired. Then chamfer the edges (so they aren't sharp)

3. For cleaning and refreshing the stone you just need a few swipes until the surface looks fresh and clean.

4. Use a figure 8 motion, and rotate the stone once in a while.

That flattening stone is just a course, hard, waterstone. It's surface will wear down a bit with use. Occasionally it will benefit from a bit of lapping on some sandpaper.

Make sure it's flat before you start using it. If it's not flat then you will have to lap it on course sandpaper. Once the lapping stone is flat, it's unlikely to go out of flat again, since it get's rubbed on flat waterstones each time it's used.

Michael

Thanks for the advice. I'm a little confused though as I've read in a few places, inlcuding the place where I bought them from, that these Naniwa stones should not be left soaking as it causes them to crack. re you saying its ok to soak them just for the lapping?

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

1. I'd soak the stones for a few minutes before lapping them

2. For the initial lapping you need to lap until flat. Make a pencil grid on the stone, and lap very evenly until it's gone. You can repeat if desired. Then chamfer the edges (so they aren't sharp)

3. For cleaning and refreshing the stone you just need a few swipes until the surface looks fresh and clean.

4. Use a figure 8 motion, and rotate the stone once in a while.

That flattening stone is just a course, hard, waterstone. It's surface will wear down a bit with use. Occasionally it will benefit from a bit of lapping on some sandpaper.

Make sure it's flat before you start using it. If it's not flat then you will have to lap it on course sandpaper. Once the lapping stone is flat, it's unlikely to go out of flat again, since it get's rubbed on flat waterstones each time it's used.

Michael

Originally Posted by postmastergeneral

Thanks for the advice. I'm a little confused though as I've read in a few places, inlcuding the place where I bought them from, that these Naniwa stones should not be left soaking as it causes them to crack. re you saying its ok to soak them just for the lapping?

Follow the manufacturer's instructions. The newer synthetics should not be soaked for a long time. They will get wet enough as you lap them. 5 mins. or so will do no harm tho. The lapping stone however is a different material & will not be harmed by a soak. Again it is unnecessary. It should be checked for flatness however.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Follow the manufacturer's instructions. The newer synthetics should not be soaked for a long time. They will get wet enough as you lap them. 5 mins. or so will do no harm tho. The lapping stone however is a different material & will not be harmed by a soak. Again it is unnecessary. It should be checked for flatness however.

Thanks. Reading on here it would appear there is very little use of this particular stone. I'm now considering selling it on eBay and going with the more popular DMT stone. Just to make sure I've got the right one, is it this one? D8C D8C Diamond Sharp Whetstone 8 X 3In Coarse 0017042007683 Dmtd8C
It's 8x3x3/8"
Cheers

I don't let my 12k stone soak for a long time. Just a couple of minutes under running water before lapping. Im sure it's fine either way.

Dmt d8c certainly is the most popular option. It also makes a wicked knife stone.

Michael

I am just getting into straight razor shaving and for honing I decided to go with a Naniwa SS 3/8k combistone. I am thinking about getting a 1k and 12k stone later. I hope I can use this setup to sharpen my kitchen knives too?

My question is about lapping, I have no lapping stone yet and this thread makes me doubt it's a worthwhile investment. But I have a glazed tile I bought in the local hardware store, been using it with sandpaper for when I need a flat surface for other things.

Will this be better than buying a lapping stone, could I embed some kind of lapping media on the tile itself, or should I use sandpaper?

Another thought I've had recently was maybe I was too hasty getting a Naniwa stone, maybe I should have gotten a coticule and learned to use it. Maybe I'll do that after I've worn this one out (assuming thats possible).

Originally Posted by HDS

I am just getting into straight razor shaving and for honing I decided to go with a Naniwa SS 3/8k combistone. I am thinking about getting a 1k and 12k stone later. I hope I can use this setup to sharpen my kitchen knives too?

My question is about lapping, I have no lapping stone yet and this thread makes me doubt it's a worthwhile investment. But I have a glazed tile I bought in the local hardware store, been using it with sandpaper for when I need a flat surface for other things.

Will this be better than buying a lapping stone, could I embed some kind of lapping media on the tile itself, or should I use sandpaper?

Another thought I've had recently was maybe I was too hasty getting a Naniwa stone, maybe I should have gotten a coticule and learned to use it. Maybe I'll do that after I've worn this one out (assuming thats possible).

No you made the right move with the naniwa 3/8k they are much easier to learn on. natural stones vary in there honing ability.

With the Naniwa Chosera and Super Stones, I simply spray them with water until they quit drinking which basically means the water starts to pool on top of them vs. soaking into them. The Naniwa plates and Norton plates work OK on their respective stones, but not so well on any other stones. I prefer the GDLP which is pretty expensive or the DMT 325 or Atoma plates for every day use. I don't obsess over flattening either. Mostly flat is good for me. I use them more for cleaning and the flattening is just part of the process. You can tell however, when you get mostly flat when the color of the stone is consistent vs. some areas of the stone having the dirty color you started with after use. The stones definitely need to be wet when cleaning/lapping them particularly with the Naniwa flattening stone or it will gunk up.

Be careful using the Naniwa's on either heavy knives or tools as they are soft feeling which makes them great for straight razors, but they can be gouged by the bigger knives or tools.

Have fun.