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Is it acceptable to hone your straight razor twice or once a month using Naniwa 12k without using any paste on strop or other stones with lower grit?
I've read on some website that all you need is a high-grit stone to frequently hone your straight razor to keep it sharp for years.
Yup, a 12K will be all you need if you get to an already shave ready edge just as soon as it start to go a little.
Basically it is the same thing many used to do back when straights were the only shaving tool.
They used barber hones, but a 12K Naniwa will certainly do the job splendidly.
This is correct if the blade is sharpened correctly first and with good/ correct stropping and a 12k you should be able to keep the edge keen for years
I would not say as often as you have mentioned to use the hone, as you should only need to use the hone when your blade is getting dull, eg starts tugging etc this can be more often as a starter, as we tend to dull the edge when stropping through poor technique
There are several videos here on refreshing with a 12k Nani, this is also my finisher and works well.
Thanks Birnando and Substance.
After I become more skilled at honing, after a few years, do you recommend buying a Naniwa 5k/8k and doing the Pyramid method before doing a final touch with the Naniwa 12k?
How long have you been using your current razor spacex?
What part of the world are you in?
The naniwa 12k has a very good reputation obviously.
Hi RoyalCake, I'm only a beginner and I've been using my razor for just a week. Recently, I purchased a Naniwa 12k and plan to use that for a few years.
I was just wondering if there will ever be a need to purchase a combo like Naniwa 5k/8k so that it gives a better honing result than simply using the 12k alone.
Not unless you really strop backwards or get a razor that has been dulled out.
Like 10pups said there shouldn't be a reason to need that unless you mess something up (which happens) or you eventually get like the rest of us and start collecting more razors. If you're interested in the honing side of things then at some point it'll be necessary, but if you're just interested in keeping your razor sharp you can stick with the 12k for now...
+1 on the wise suggestions you got above.
You must get to know if your razor has been honed with or without tape on the spine and do the same when refreshing on your naniwa.
Better if you can use the same tape brand and model so you are sure it's the same thickness. Using the naniwa 12k only you must be able to work straight on the edge.
Be careful what you read. No. Do not frequently hone your straight razor. Only as necessary. Many folks find that proper stropping with a pasted strop negates the need to re-hone your razor. Ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by spacex
Welcome, Enjoy, keep reading watch Lynn Abrams' and Glen-gssixgun's videos. They are quite helpful and solidly based upon experience not "web buzz". And realize that there are many ways to get there.
Also there is a great collection of advice and processes in the library here, and for those that can't find the library-in stickies at the head of every section of forums.
I love the Naniwas super. Easy to learn. The 12k is a fantastic finisher and will serve you well. I use electrical tape tp protect the spine from wear but never fret about putting a blade on the stones. Personally I love the first couple shaves fron a freshly honed blade.
As others have said stropping or correctly will maintain a blade for quite awhile. don't think twice about using the 12k to refresh a blade.
How many laps do you do on the Nani 12k to just refresh. After wetting the stone down, what do you consider enough for a refresh? Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by rmagnus
spacex,
I have been doing exactly that for a couple of years now; after ca. seven (7) shaves, the edge gets a touch up on a CrOX dusted hard leather paddle. After ca. twenty-eight (28) shaves, it gets a touch up on the Naniwa 12k.
Phrank - I have used ten to thirty (10 - 30) laps on the Naniwa 12k, the number being dependent on the razor and the edge condition. The larger number of laps are mostly used with my C135 Thiers-Issards, which are mighty hard :)
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
Thanks everyone for all your help and advice. One of the reasons why I got a Naniwa 12k was because I committed the beginner's mistake a few times of not keeping my blade flat while stropping (the spine was in the air rather than touching the leather :-(), which I believe is starting to cause my razor to dull.
My Naniwa 12k and a DMT 325 are arriving next week. I will flatten the Naniwa 12k first and then try to sharpen my razor. Hopefully, it'll be restored to the state when it first arrived or better!
And now that I learned my lesson, I'll be stropping the right way!
When you get your DMT be sure to break it in before you go after that NAni or you will find some big scratches in it when your done lapping. You won't ruin anything but it sometimes causes panic :<0)
Good question. I'd guess 15-20 laps. I go by feel and visual inspection with a loupe. Sometimes I'll start with slurry from lapping the 12k with a DMT325 then do about 10 laps clean the 12K and come back with another 10 laps. The lighter your pressure the sharper the blade.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phrank
Interesting note after refreshing I strop on a linen strop unpasted then on rough leather finishing on smooth leather. Never been disappointed. I tried going from 12K to Crox pasted linen but felt it was working backwards. Maybe the Crox works better as a refresh w/o going to the stones.
Hi 10Pups, I got the DMT Dia-Sharp Continuous Diamond Coarse 325 (the one without the rings). How do you suggest that I "break it in?"Quote:
Originally Posted by 10Pups
If you have some dull knives lying around, hone them. Otherwise, use any piece of hard (tool) steel, such as a screwdriver and rub it vigorously until the surface smoothens out. You'll be surprised just how smooth this rough diamond stone gets once broken in :)Quote:
Originally Posted by spacex
hea guys new at this whats the difference between honeing with a ninawa stone or cermanic ? I have both the stone you soak with water ,the cermanic you just sprinkle water on it,but which one gives the sharper blade?
That depends on which ones you mean. The Naniwa call their 12K "new ceramics", Shapton hones are ceramic too. As for synthetic/ceramic hones, the higher the grit rating, the sharper the blade (disclaimer: different brands use different grit scales, but this relation is generally true).Quote:
Originally Posted by semperfi6141
Just use it.Quote:
Originally Posted by spacex
Hi Laurens, I have another lower-grit water stone for honing knives. Maybe I will rub the DMT against that to "break in" the DMT first before I use it on my Naniwa 12k!Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
Probably more effective to rub it against steel as suggested. Way probably.
Doesn't really matter. By the time it does matter, it'll be broken in.
I lapped a heavily dished low-grit low-quality whetstone and found it helped breaking in quite a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by spacex
I agree but be careful with the pressure as DMT advices clearly not to use high pressure with their products.Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurens
Cheers
Jörg