Thread: To Aoto...or not to Aoto?

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Do you need a touch up or a bevel set?

Because if you need a touch up then all you need is a few strokes on a very fine stone. Resetting the bevel would be overkill.

The 8k shapton would be good for a touch up. So would the right j-nat and nagura if one knows how to do it.

I don't think anyone would say to treat a razor like other edged tools. They need to be treated differently.

Michael

Right. Okay, so get me grounded here. What's the right grit stone to set a bevel? Obviously, I'm not going to what I would do with a beat up chisel and start on 60 grit sandpaper. On the other hand, mainaman indicated that a 4k grit aoto was too fine for bevel setting. So...how low do we go? Assuming, of course, a blade that's not nicked up or used to open packages?

Standard stone used for a bevel is 1k. I use on occassion a 600 chosera when i have to. What makes you think it needs a bevel set as opposed to a touchup? You say you have 10 shaves on it.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Standard stone used for a bevel is 1k. I use on occassion a 600 chosera when i have to. What makes you think it needs a bevel set as opposed to a touchup? You say you have 10 shaves on it.

Well, that's why I was asking. Being new to this level of sharp on metal this thin and all, I thought I'd get educated first. If I were to have similar level of degradation on one of my japanese chisels, I'd just step over to Mr. Hideriyama, spritz spritz, scrubba scrubba, flip and rub, and back to the workbench.

1000 grit: do you all ever use diamond stones? Or do they chip the edge? What is the hardness of these steels anyway?

I would recommend spending some time reading in the library here and watching some videos. Theres a wealth of knowledge and tips. You wont be sorry.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Right. Okay, so get me grounded here. What's the right grit stone to set a bevel? Obviously, I'm not going to what I would do with a beat up chisel and start on 60 grit sandpaper. On the other hand, mainaman indicated that a 4k grit aoto was too fine for bevel setting. So...how low do we go? Assuming, of course, a blade that's not nicked up or used to open packages?

Some people use the dmt 1200 mesh for initial honing. Most people on this forum seem to use waterstones eg norton or naniwa.

A typical progression involves 1-4-8-12k. Once a razor is shaving well you would rarely have to go back to 1k, if ever.

Michael