New guy honing on Naniwa 12K SS - big thank you SRP

Guys, I've been SR shaving about 3 months now and it was time to get the razor sent in for a freshening up. Then I saw all the great videos that have been put out there. Lynn, GSSIXGUN, etc. you guys make it look really easy.

Sooo I figured since I only have one SR right now, I didn't want to wait a full month to get it freshened professionally, I'd give it a shot. I ordered a Naniwa 12K SS from SRD, picked up some 3M 800 grit Wet/Dry sand paper from Lowes and a flat ceramic tile and used the the HOWTO from the SRP library on lapping the stone.

Then I followed GSSIXGUN's taping method and part 3 of his Naniwa youtube series and gave it a go. By the way, it's harder than it looks.

While I know I didn't do the best honing job in the world, what I can tell you is that thanks to all the great information available my razor is sharper now. Smoother now. Gave almost no irritation when I shaved with it this morning.

Once my second razor arrives I may send this one out to get professionally done so I know what it's "supposed to be". But in the mean time, guys, thanks for all the time and effort you all put into passing on this art.

-Mick

Sounds like your off to a good start. Watch out for RAD. It will sneak up on you.:beer1:

Good for you :D That is great you took initiative and used the info available to help yourself and it sounds like it paid off. If you keep with it you will get there and if there is someone in your area they may be able to help you out even more with learning touch ups.

With practice and the right stones, you can hone fantastic edges on your razors. The Naniwa 12k is a great finishing hone and will work great for touch ups.

I started honing my own at about three months also. It would be much easier if there was someone close to guide you, but I did not have anyone and it all worked out, just took longer to get consistent without an on-site mentor.

The Nani's are really nice stones, congrats on your first attempt.

The 12k Super/Specialty stone, all the stones in that series, are notorious for loading up. Frequent refreshing/resurfacing is needed and will provide a better honing surface and edge.

A diamond plate for doing so, is a good investment. Chef Knives to Go makes a very nice 400/1000 dual grit 8X3 diamond plate for $35.

It will make your life so much easier and ensure better more consistent edge.

Here is an interesting post, about the versatility of the 12k Super Stone.
(12K Super Stone Chip Removal/Bevel Set)

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Originally Posted by micksonline

it's harder than it looks.

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It's harder than it looks only because you have not yet developed the muscle memory. With practice this will get easier. It's the same as the learning process for riding a bike. What initially is a struggle requiring your full attention will become almost automatic over time.

Refreshing is a great place to start. You may choose to stay with refreshing or you may choose to learn a full progression. What happens to a lot of people is you develop RAD and then you have too many razors to send them all out, so you start to do full progression honing. Then you see all the hones out there and you start to develop HAD. This can be as elaborate or as minimal as you choose. There is no one answer. I hope you continue to have fun and reach your shaving goals. Congratulations on taking a successful new step.

great place to start as you spend more time on the 12k you will get better at it, plus if you haven't had a pro honed razor you should try it to see where your edge falls. good job,, but your comment about taking a month to get one honed is incorrect information unless you sent it out to the space station. I can send a razor from Tennessee to Idaho and have it back in my hands in about 7 days sometimes 6 so lets not make people think that outside services have terrible turnaround times Tc

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

great place to start as you spend more time on the 12k you will get better at it, plus if you haven't had a pro honed razor you should try it to see where your edge falls. good job,, but your comment about taking a month to get one honed is incorrect information unless you sent it out to the space station. I can send a razor from Tennessee to Idaho and have it back in my hands in about 7 days sometimes 6 so lets not make people think that outside services have terrible turnaround times Tc

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Good point tcrideshd. I guess I was thinking of some of the big shops that post two week turn around times for a honing service and I built in a typical 3-5 working day shipping. I've seen a number of people on SRD offer a honing to newbies and that surely would have a short turn around. Thank you for pointing that out.

-Mick

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

The 12k Super/Specialty stone, all the stones in that series, are notorious for loading up. Frequent refreshing/resurfacing is needed and will provide a better honing surface and edge.

A diamond plate for doing so, is a good investment. Chef Knives to Go makes a very nice 400/1000 dual grit 8X3 diamond plate for $35.

It will make your life so much easier and ensure better more consistent edge.

Here is an interesting post, about the versatility of the 12k Super Stone.
(12K Super Stone Chip Removal/Bevel Set)

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Great tip Euclid440. It looks like this must be what you are referring to.
CKTG Combination Diamond Plate 400/1,000

Thanks

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Originally Posted by micksonline

Great tip Euclid440. It looks like this must be what you are referring to.
CKTG Combination Diamond Plate 400/1,000

Thanks

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Yep - that's it. Works well for lapping - I use it all the time.

Adam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

The 12k Super/Specialty stone, all the stones in that series, are notorious for loading up. Frequent refreshing/resurfacing is needed and will provide a better honing surface and edge.

A diamond plate for doing so, is a good investment. Chef Knives to Go makes a very nice 400/1000 dual grit 8X3 diamond plate for $35.

It will make your life so much easier and ensure better more consistent edge.

Here is an interesting post, about the versatility of the 12k Super Stone.
(12K Super Stone Chip Removal/Bevel Set)

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Another endorsement of Euclid's suggestion.
And that diamond plate will serve double duty for tuning up your kitchen knives etc. - this can make you even more popular...

I'm thinking that many here who have large collections of rocks would agree that this would be their "If I can only have one stone and something to clean/lap it with" rig...

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Originally Posted by RezDog

Refreshing is a great place to start. You may choose to stay with refreshing or you may choose to learn a full progression. What happens to a lot of people is you develop RAD and then you have too many razors to send them all out, so you start to do full progression honing. Then you see all the hones out there and you start to develop HAD. This can be as elaborate or as minimal as you choose. There is no one answer. I hope you continue to have fun and reach your shaving goals. Congratulations on taking a successful new step.

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Funny how those ADs work. I do everything completely backward. Learned to hone a razor before I learned to strop (and to some degree shave) with one. Acquired a bunch of hones, then came to the realization that it would be awfully difficult to properly test 5 different finishing stones on 2 razors. And now my strops are starting to multiply too...

No matter which you catch first, it seems one inevitably follows the other.

Congrats on your success micksonline! Hope many more follow it! Have fun.

I resemble Marshal's shaving journey to a very large degree, but then again, I've always been "Abby Normal." :hmmm:

Congrats on your first honing success. Depending how severely RAD takes hold of you, you might find yourself becoming a fairly decent honer before too long. Fair warning. ;)

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Originally Posted by micksonline

Great tip Euclid440. It looks like this must be what you are referring to.
CKTG Combination Diamond Plate 400/1,000

Thanks

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Is there (apparently there is...) an advantage of this plate over the frequently-recommended DMT 325? That's what i have and what I lap my Naniwa 12k with. What would be the advantage in getting a 2nd diamond plate?

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Originally Posted by 400E

Is there (apparently there is...) an advantage of this plate over the frequently-recommended DMT 325? That's what i have and what I lap my Naniwa 12k with. What would be the advantage in getting a 2nd diamond plate?

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There are a few advantages. It's cheaper than the DMT. It's two sided, unlike the DMT. The diamond patterning on the 400 side allows it to clear grit a little better. Unlike the DMT, it has less, if any, need to be broken in.

If you've already got the DMT 325, then no, there is no particular advantage for having it. If you only have the Naniwa 12k, then you really shouldn't need a second diamond plate.

Thanks!

I do also have Naniwa 1K (traditional), and 3/8k Superstone. Same with them, that the DMT 325 is fine?

Yes its just fine

Yup .

[QUOTE=Euclid440;1722281]The 12k Super/Specialty stone, all the stones in that series, are notorious for loading up. Frequent refreshing/resurfacing is needed and will provide a better honing surface and edge.

A diamond plate for doing so, is a good investment. Chef Knives to Go makes a very nice 400/1000 dual grit 8X3 diamond plate for $35.

I agree diamond plates are a good investment. Can't recommend the CKTG plate. I purchased one, and the diamonds are coming off. probably good for sharpening knives. Not good for lapping. Just my experience...

[QUOTE=relli1130;1724689]

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

I agree diamond plates are a good investment. Can't recommend the CKTG plate. I purchased one, and the diamonds are coming off. probably good for sharpening knives. Not good for lapping. Just my experience...

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I did pick up one of those CKTG 400/1000 plates and used the 1000 side to lap the stone. It took a while but worked. What was your experience with the CKTG plate? How long did it last for you?

Have you tried cleaning it with a nail brush and soft scrub? They look like they are loosing their diamonds but often they are just getting plugged up.

Lap stones under running water, or you will pull diamonds out, from any plate.

As said, it is probably just clogged, stiff brush and cleanser, can revive a clogged plate,
I like Barkeepers Friend.

[QUOTE=micksonline;1724690]

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Originally Posted by relli1130

I did pick up one of those CKTG 400/1000 plates and used the 1000 side to lap the stone. It took a while but worked. What was your experience with the CKTG plate? How long did it last for you?

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It still works, but after 4 or 5 months, there are large bare spots on both sides.

Wow! I stand corrected. On several counts. First, I don't own the CKTG plate! I thought I did, but then I recall purchasing my plate elsewhere. It is similar though - a 400/1000 combo plate. Anyway, thanks Euclid for the tip. Here you will see my before and after photos. I thought the diamonds were peeling off my plate. But it was just clogged. I used Comet and a stiff plastic brush. Nearly good as new! I was seriously looking to purchase an Atoma b/c of the good reviews. Now that I know what to do, I'm hoping I'll have this plate for a long time. I do like the fact that the 1000k gives my stones a nice clean polish with less grooves on my Norton. So, in hindsight, if the CKTG plate performs like mine, I would recommend...sorry for any confusion

Attachment 260609Attachment 260610

use the 400 side for the heavy lifting. then use the 1000 side to reduce the grooves left behind with the 400 side. you should be left with a nice polish on the stones. That's what I do anyways, and it seems to work for me.

I just posted some photos of before and after since I cleaned my lapping plate with comet and a stiff brush. My plate is as good as new. Sorry if I gave you reason to be concerned with my previous post. My plate was simply clogged, and I didn't know that. I now realize I don't have the CKTG plate. I have a different one, but it is similar b/c it is a 400/1000 combo plate. My apologies.

In most cases the 400 is perfectly adequate for lapping or refreshing a hone, with no need to use the 1k side.

Can you just use wet sandpaper, like 400 grit?

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Originally Posted by JayR

Can you just use wet sandpaper, like 400 grit?

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It will work in the short term, or if you don't do a lot of honing. But when I started out, I spent enough money on sand paper to buy 2 DMTs before I finally cut my losses and bought the diamond plate.