Thread: How crucial is hone flatness to honing success?

Gentleman I have been lapping my waterstones and coticule with a DMT C 4 inch stone for 6 or 7 months now. I thought I was getting my hones flat. Point in case I wasn't and I found this out today after I revived my brand new 10x4" DMT DIA-FLAT. This thing is a beast and it showed me just how inefficient my tiny little DMT was. I really have to wonder how critical hone flatness is to honing success. I know hones don't have to be flat down to 0.0005" but I just like knowing that they are that flat now. It really saves me time and is a good upgrade for me. Makes my life easier and my hones flatter. How important is hone flatness to success as apparently I have been trying to hone with dished stones for a long time and not getting very much success. Please weigh in on the issue.

Thanks, Scott

Included a little picture for laughs and comparison.

When I first bought my Naniwa Superstones, I tried them straight from the box on a batch of 10 or so razors. They all came out shaving just fine.

I have not continued any sort of testing to see how not-flat the hones can be without losing their ability to sharpen an edge.

Reasonably close to each other in relative terms is fine.

if you have a hone that literally removes the scratches up the bevel and not at the edge after following another stone, you have problems. If that doesn't happen, you don't.

I use a straight edge across the stone and look for light or a bow in the middle. if I see too much light or a hump I will use the DMT diamond plate it I don't I will continue to clean after honeing and keep on keeping on.

I have used fairly dished hones before and didn't notice much difference with an X stroke. Maybe a straight up and back strike would be different. Idk? I lap mine (1k) regularly not only for flatness but to clean the surface too. I haven't lapped my guangxi since I got it though. It's really hard and is still flat plus as I build a slurry it cleans and polishes it.

I am pretty lazy about truly lapping. I clean mine often but as far as a pencil grid, lap it off and then hit it a second time just to be sure that is probably an annual event. The secret to making a DMT last is lots of water, either running water or under water, personally I prefer under water. A wee scrub periodically with soft scrub and a soft nylon brush and you will see it come right back to life. I think if your hones are not flat you have to compensate for that in your stroke, and if you are new to honing you may not have be able to figure that all out. However if they are way out of wack I don't think you can compensate for that very easily, or should I say I doubt I could. There many around with more skill and experience than I that likely could.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I am pretty lazy about truly lapping. I clean mine often but as far as a pencil grid, lap it off and then hit it a second time just to be sure that is probably an annual event. The secret to making a DMT last is lots of water, either running water or under water, personally I prefer under water. A wee scrub periodically with soft scrub and a soft nylon brush and you will see it come right back to life. I think if your hones are not flat you have to compensate for that in your stroke, and if you are new to honing you may not have be able to figure that all out. However if they are way out of wack I don't think you can compensate for that very easily, or should I say I doubt I could. There many around with more skill and experience than I that likely could.

I saw the one you had and that sealed the deal. I used it today and whoa so easy and flat.

I've always felt I did better, as in faster/efficient with a flat stone. To the point where I make sure before I start now. YMMV

A stone can get pretty far out the long way and still hone very satisfactory. If it's off the short way even the slightest you will have big problems.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

A stone can get pretty far out the long way and still hone very satisfactory. If it's off the short way even the slightest you will have big problems.

They were off both long and short due to the small dmt contacting the stones at different parts