Thread: Lapping stones

I have a couple of natural stones, so far I have lapped them using wet and dry sandpaper, coarse grit 120 up to 600. When using them however I find they still feel a little rough and sound a little scratchy, especially the Chinese. Would these be improved by lapping with something like a diamond bench stone?

You could try burnishing it with an old chisel or steel bar. I used an old masonry chisel to good effect. That is what most people do to prep an ark.
My $.02 Not a pro
Ken

Wet dry does shed a little, so using a diamond bench hone to clean them afterwards should do wonders. Also if they are slate hones they should not need anything else but if the are novaculite hones, like arks, they likely need to be burnished. The PHIG should be ok without burnishing. I use a diamond hone to clean my hones from swarf too, naturals and synthetics.

Originally Posted by TomP30

I have a couple of natural stones, so far I have lapped them using wet and dry sandpaper, coarse grit 120 up to 600. When using them however I find they still feel a little rough and sound a little scratchy, especially the Chinese. Would these be improved by lapping with something like a diamond bench stone?

The Chinese hone is quite hard. If the other one is as well, then you could simply rub them together. As long as they both are flat already this should work as an alternative to buying a lapping plate.

I have used a translucent Arkansas pocket hone to slurry my hones, It is very hard and leaves no grit. Black translucent Arkansas would be the same.
JMO
~Richard