Picked up some new toys

Was out and about yesterday and picked up a stone and a portable microscope to play around with. The stone is just a 12K Chinese water stone I picked up at Woodcraft for like $25. I'll still have to pick up a lapping stone to flatten it before I use it, but it seems pretty nice.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psc0032039.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pse8ebc23f.jpg

Then I stopped off at RadioShack and picked up this little portable microscope. Its got a light on it and is 60-100X (supposedly). I dont know much about the magnification but I know the thing works great! I ran over all of my blades with it and I saw some very interesting things. I noticed the "teeth" on the blade. I saw a couple of "wires" hanging off the end. I also have one that was just honed up and hasnt been used yet, so I can see what a good sharp edge is supposed to look like. And for $14 for this, I would say its well worth the money spent.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps93e45831.jpg

Just thought I would share since I am about to take the steps into learning how to hone and keep my blades in tip top shape.

What is the best way to lap one of these Chinese stones? I've seen they can be a PITA to get them lapped properly. Im getting a Norton 4/8 soon and I'll need to lap that too, so is there a lapping stone or procedure that will work for both the Chinese 12k and the Norton combo? Any recommendations would be great.

Do you have a bevel setting hone (1000 grit)?
If not, I may have something you need. Let me know.
Robert

I dont yet. I was looking at maybe one of those 220/1k Nortons, but wasnt sure if I would need the 220 yet or for anything other than major blade repair. But so far, I dont have anything for setting a bevel.

Give me a little bit and I will send you one to use and for that matter, a couple of razors for you to work on. After you left the meet and greet, Tom and Bob helped me work on the Boker I cleaned up. Pinned on the replacement handle and then we started working on the edge. Tom showed me some great technique on the 1000. I will tell you that I was leaving the stone too soon and working too hard on the follow up stones. We (Tom) set the bevel and used the 1000 until the razor was popping hairs, then we used a progression on the following stones, a little pasted strop, and some strokes on the finish strop. I shaved with it yesterday with no other stropping, awesome shave.
SO, hang in there and be patient, I have some stones you can use until you are ready for your set.

Awesome! Tonight I should be getting a confirmation email about that 4/8 Norton, so I'll have that. Should I need anything more than the 1k, 4/8, and a finisher?

Your call but to start I think the1k, 4/8, and the finisher will be enough. You have the 12K to work with. If it goes well with your technique, it will be enough for now. Stropping will help you. So do you need the 1K I have?

I could use it, yeah. Cause the one razor I have that I can work on doesnt have a perfect bevel from what I can see. There is one there, but its a bit wavy and the edge looks a bit deteriorated, so I could probably reset and work up through the progression and bugging the hell out of you and Tom and Paul for help. Haha

I have them both, a Chinese 12K PHIG & that little scope, they both work great.

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Originally Posted by TexasShaver

I could use it, yeah. Cause the one razor I have that I can work on doesnt have a perfect bevel from what I can see. There is one there, but its a bit wavy and the edge looks a bit deteriorated, so I could probably reset and work up through the progression and bugging the hell out of you and Tom and Paul for help. Haha

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I will be glad to help, but we know where the expertise is really at. SO, I can get you started, we work on technique, and we bug the hell out of Tom, Bob, Paul, and any others as needed.

I will get with you soon and we will get an address for shipping.

Aweseome. I really appreciate it Robert!

Hirlau, what did you lap your stone with and was it as hard as everyone has said it is?

No problem. I'll email or pm this weekend.

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Originally Posted by TexasShaver

Hirlau, what did you lap your stone with and was it as hard as everyone has said it is?

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DMT-325 then finished with 3M Wet/Dry 2000 wrapped around my DMT. It was easy, 15 minutes.