Thread: Naniwa Lapping Plate?

Hey, guys! Thank you all for sharing so much useful information as I pursue my quest to find good sharpening tools without trading my house for them.

Have any of you tried the Naniwa lapping plate, which is available on SRD? I know there's a lot of DMT religion here, and yes, this Naniwa looks sort of like the much-discredited Norton lapping plate. But the DMT D8C doesn't look as simple to clean as a lapper with grooves, and I read a few tales of woe by those who didn't lap with it under running water (if I have to do that I shudder for my old plumbing), or they failed to effectively clean away the slurry. I know the Norton lapper has a problem staying flat, and am wondering if the Naniwa counterpart holds up any better to use. Also, is it really true that you cannot apply one of these (the Norton or the Naniwa Lapping Plate) to waterstones of either make, and if so can you please explain WHY? With $20 being so much easier to pass than $50, I must ask.

Thanks.

My drain has taken worse abuse than a few diamond bits!

bluroot,

The Naniwa lapping plate is surprisingly frangible, and you will notice lots of 'grit' from it in the sink after you have used it.

The plate itself needs periodic flattening with ca 120 'grit' silicon carbide paper. I used to flatten mine after ca. 10 uses.

I stopped using mine and went over to a DMT 325.

The DMT 325 is used under flowing water and is much less messy to use than the Naniwa.

The DMT 325 is also very easy to clean if needed - just use some cream cleaner designed for ceramic hobs ( I use the CIF cream with 'micro-particles).

The DMT 325 or the DMT extra coarse plate (220?) leave a much better finish than their 'grit' size would indicate.

From my experience with coticules & Belgian Blues, the 325 leaves a finish indistinguishable from ca. 600 grit silicon carbide paper.

However, the Naniwa (and Norton) lapping plates will get the job done

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I just got a new naniwa lapping stone and I've noticed a rough edge or two. is there a break in procedure? I know there is for the dmt 325. Or should I just do like mentioned above with the 120 grit sand paper?

I have lapped a lot of hones. To avoid dropping all that slurry down the drain, I catch it in a dishpan in the sink. If it is from a good hone, I save the slurry water for future use.

And yes, I have been mocked for this but I have, and use, about a dozen different hone slurries!

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have lapped a lot of hones. To avoid dropping all that slurry down the drain, I catch it in a dishpan in the sink. If it is from a good hone, I save the slurry water for future use.

And yes, I have been mocked for this but I have, and use, about a dozen different hone slurries!

I feel so much better knowing I am not the only guy that does this! I have little cups holding the juice of coticles and thurries and Nani12k etc

You can lap submerged in a bucket or tub and discard the water outside.