Thread: Lapping a Naniwa

Hi guys,
Is this what I need for lapping Naniwa stones?

DMT 8" Dia-Sharp Diamond Stone D8C
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/8...one-P7C24.aspx

Or should I get the Naniwas own lapping plate? Thanks for any help.

That will work. Could get an Atoma diamond (actually can buy a 600 plate then get the 1200 (film only) and stick it on the back of the 600. Best price I found here state side for the Atoma is Griffith Shaving Goods.
"Chef Knives to G0" has a 400/1000 plate that some use runs about $35 plus shipping.
Or you could go with quality wet/dry Sand paper and a cheap piece of granite floor tile (or marble or a glass plate).

There's also lapping powder that some use; especially with the hard naturals.

Not sure what your options are for stores/shipping across the pond. Someone from your neighborhood hopefully will chime in.

If I'm thinking right the Naniwa is a pretty small lapping stone...more for like cleaning build up off as your honing (I may be wrong on this).

But "yes" I've read the DMT D8C is used by manny.

Good luck
Jer

When I purchased my Naniwa Superstone set, I purchased a Naniwa lapping stone. I used it for the initial flattening of the hones, but like a much finer stone for finishing and maintaining the hones, especially on the higher grit hones such as the 8K and 12K hones. I purchased a Atoma 1200 that I now use both for lapping and for generating slurry when needed.

For lapping a synthetic stone, any diamond plate in the 300-400 grit, will work, Iwood, CNTG, DMT or EZ lap, even $20 EBay plates work, ($20 to 70), though, not the Harbor Freight.

You can go Atoma, for about 100. Is it a better plate? Yea, but if your lapping a synthetic, it will not matter. If you are lapping high-grit naturals, jnats, then maybe you will notice the difference.

Synthetics break down so fast, you will not notice the difference between a 20/35 dollar, plate and a 100 dollar plate. I have most of them and use them all, for different purposes.

But if I was starting out, and money was a concern, buy the CNTG, 400/1000, if money is not an issue, or you want the best, buy the Atoma.

I ordered a new 1200 Atoma skin, from CNTG recently, they were out of stock, they sent me a new 1200 plate for the price of the skin, GREAT customer service.

That will work, it will be a little rough at first. Meaning it will probably leave deeper scratches. These are not an issue, as they will be below the surface in contact with the razor.

If cost is an issue, initial lapping can be done with 320 grit, then maintained with figure 8 strokes with dmt d6c

Just to echo the rest: Atoma/DMT/CKTG diamond plates are a good start. Buy a diamond plate once and be set for a long, long time as long as you avoid hard naturals. And sandpaper on a flat surface (piece of granite, glass shelf, etc.) will do for initial flattening if you want to hold off on the plate.

I wouldn't use loose SIC with a soft synthetic stone. Save that mess for the hard naturals that need it.

I also would probably avoid the Naniwa flattening stones. The small square scrubbing biscuit designed for cleaning swarf off I give 2 thumbs up, I have one for my Norton hones. But the Naniwa Flattening stone looks like it would have the same issue the Norton flattening stone has - Probably doesn't come very flat, and needs something to keep it flat. And there's another underlying issue, there are 2 Naniwa flattening stones.

The smaller one is 6-11/16" x 2-1/8" x 1-1/8" - which is a little bit on the small side I think. The bigger one is 12" x 6" x 1" which is just too darn big. Unless you have a way to keep your flattening stone flat, the large one will eventually become dished and make your hones convex, and the small one I imagine would end up wearing it uneven in some fashion. In my opinion, optimal would be same width, same length or maybe a little bit longer than your hone. Slightly wider is also OK. But the material these are made of looks like it would be prone to wear and ending up out of flat.

The d8c is the one often recommended. It is a heavy plate though and you will want a stone holder to use it. Personally I prefer the atoma as its light and easy to use by hand, has the replacement foils if damaged or you want to make it dual sided and it doesn't suffer from suction like the d8c is prone to. For something that you want to purchase once a couple extra dollars is worth it and you wouldn't have to buy the stone holder as well. Tools from Japan used to have pretty good prices and would be worth checking out.

So, Atoma looks like the way to go. Some people recommend the 1200 but Chiefknivestogo.com says on the Atoma 1200 page to buy the 140 grit plate if you want lapping. Which should I buy?

For general synthetic stone lapping you want a 400 Atoma plate, the 140 is an aggressive plate for lapping natural stones that are way out of flat, but they will still need a 3-400 plate to smooth them out. Unless you are lapping a lot of stones, the Atoma 140 is a waste of money, there are less expensive 140 plates that you can abuse with the same results.

You will also trash a 1200 plate, lapping synthetic stones with it. They are great for light finishing of high grit naturals and slurry raising, though Diamond Slurry is controversial in some circles.

If you are going Atoma, buy the 400 for synthetic stones, it is a good all-purpose plate for lapping and refreshing.

I use all my plates without a holder.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

For general synthetic stone lapping you want a 400 Atoma plate, the 140 is an aggressive plate for lapping natural stones that are way out of flat, but they will still need a 3-400 plate to smooth them out. Unless you are lapping a lot of stones, the Atoma 140 is a waste of money, there are less expensive 140 plates that you can abuse with the same results.

You will also trash a 1200 plate, lapping synthetic stones with it. They are great for light finishing of high grit naturals and slurry raising, though Diamond Slurry is controversial in some circles.

If you are going Atoma, buy the 400 for synthetic stones, it is a good all-purpose plate for lapping and refreshing.

I use all my plates without a holder.

Thanks
Just starting out, so the plan is to send my razor off for a professional honing and when stropping and balsa stropping fail I'll try a Naniwa 12k to touch up the edge. Then I'll move down the stones as needed.