Naniwa prep

Evening folks!

I have a Naniwa 3k/8k combo.

I have attempted to hone my razor after making the sad accidental mistake of barely bumping my SR blade against the sink tap, which made a good small dent... I was able to get it down to being unnoticed.... but now it wont pass the hair test, being my first honing and all - I could send it it in for my complimentary free sharpening at SRD, but I want to at least try my hand at it before that.

I realized, it's probably because I haven't lapped my Nani yet, and I also saw video's on youtube where they soak their Nani's for at least 5-10 minutes before lapping and honing. I will be lapping with 300 grit and 600 grit sand paper.

So i guess my question is.... after I have lapped this hone and all is good, should I be using any oils, or pre-soak it in distilled water, or just take to it dry?


Thanks for the input :)

You may have to set the bevel again. I am sure some others will come in but without knowing how bad the ding was that is probably your problem.

Do you know if the bevel was set prior to taking it to the 3/8k? If not, you may want to look into acquiring a 1k to set the bevel...it really is the most important step in honing IMHO and in my (very limited) experience....:)

I just use tap water on my Naniwa stones.

Bob

I have soaked and just sprayed with water and went. DO NOT use oil on these, only water for naniwas. With the ding you are going to have to reset the bevel. Look at the JANORTON videos, lots of good info on setting bevels with 3k and 4k stones, nortons and naniwas grits are so close they work pretty similar in the basic process. Then you will refine the bevel with light pressure on the 3k, then move to finishing on the 8k

gssixgun does a whole series of videos about honing on Naniwas on YouTube

I really like the feel of the Naniwa 3/8 too

Thanks all,
The ding is not the problem, I apparently fixed it (checked it out under a 100x microscope), the problem is not passing the hair test that it passed when I first got it, up until I decided to sharpen it myself. But I realize my mistake was not in form or pressure while honing, but probably in how I'm using the hone ( i used it dry! plus it wasn't lapped...off to lap now, finally found some 600 grit at the store.) I have no idea where to buy higher grit than the 600,,,, i was told autobody/auto paint/auto shops have it

I dont think you need to use any higher grit than 600 for lapping. A lot of guys, me included, lap on a DMT 325 and go straight to honing from there.
Grant

Yep, 320 or 400 is all you need to lap the stone. One piece of advice that I follow of Glen's that's served me well; I do about 5-8 quick circles or back and forth strokes w/ my lapping plate before I hone everytime to make sure the surface is clean and flat for every blade. Seems overkill, but in the event there is something funky about an edge after I'm done, that's one variable out of the equation to solve. Don't pine over the HHT, it's pretty useless; other than to tell you your edge can cut, but it won't tell you how well it will cut, or if it's toothy or still somewhat dull, ect. Use the TPT and TNT tests instead after the bevel set and refining on your 3k, then the TPT during your finishing on your 8K, then strop and test shave. :gl:

Other than it not passing the HHT, Have you tried to shave with it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zib

Other than it not passing the HHT, Have you tried to shave with it?

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Now that is a good question. Somehow I never do any hair tests except to see if the initial bevel set will cut arm hairs. After that the shave will tell me what I want to know. Seems to work so far.

Bob

I did try shaving with it anyways, but perhaps it was a kind of placebo effect I had on myself for my un-confident honing... I just feel like there is no way I should be able to get a nice honing done with it only being my second honing. As mentioned I did shave with it, no nicks, but felt like it just was not the same as my first time with it before that sad event with the ding on the bevel. I think what I ought to do is - send it in for the free honing to SRD, and then when I get it back, first thing - go look at it under my 100x and see the pattern and bevel size.

Good to know that about the hair test, all it really is I guess is an aesthetic pleaser that looks cool and gives the false impression of perfection for a facial shave - because a normal knife wont typically do that. No more hair tests for me. Thanks you guys!