Thread: Is it flat? Am I crazy?

Got a nice 12x12 marble tile and some wet/dry sandpaper to flatten my NFS and finally I got my Atoma 1200. Now I'm working with nice flat surfaces!

I have the NFS too, and use it as you do. I do circles and try to do 8's and then I grid mark it again and do the whole process again. probably no need to and maybe a waste of material but that's what I do.
They do say the NFS does need flattened from time to time. Not sure how often as I've not done it yet, but maybe your NFS is due? Or maybe try sand paper on a known flat surface to test your theory.

Dang.......I totally missed all the other post sorry for repeating what was all ready said

You won't hear many honing veterans using the nfs, they use DMT or Atoma plates. Maybe you should consider that for a minute...they might do it for a reason.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

You won't hear many honing veterans using the nfs, they use DMT or Atoma plates. Maybe you should consider that for a minute...they might do it for a reason.

Or if you're really snooty a Shapton GDLP...

A good steel straight edge is handy to double check flatness following removing the pencil grid. I used it to check my DMTs when I got them. Had to send one back and they replaced it. I don't use the Norton FS though I still have one, but that was the primary flattening stone for a pretty good while, until the DMT D8C came along. I bet Lynn must have gone through quite a few until he switched to the diamond plates. When I'm taking hones out of the cabinet to begin, I'll spot check them for flat, with a Starrett straight edge, before I get 'em wet. If they need a little TLC it is either the DMT or the Atoma.

Some of the flattening stones also need some soaking before lapping and use. The Suihiro is one. That the razor sharpening hones require soaking for the same length of time prior to lapping and prior use is a given.
One of the reasons for the hump on the center of a using hone is tha the lapping was done in such a way that the pressure abraded the edges more than the center. A very common mistake.
Just thinkin'
~Richard

I got the Atoma 1200 this week and used it to flatten my norton 1 and 4k. I soaked my stones and lapped them under running water with only the weight of the hone as pressure. The process took awhile and afterwards I noticed a spot in the center of the Atoma. I'm most certain that the diamond grit was displaced. Was the 1200 too fine to be lapping my 1k? I tried my best to do figure eight motions and circles clockwise and counter. Check it out. After 30 mins of use.

You need to realize what the grits of each are and then think about it....which stone was lapping which?