Thread: How far can a 12k and a strop take me?

I just bought a Chinese 12k stone from a fellow member that I plan on using to refresh the edge of my razor when it needs it. My razor has been honed by an expert, so I'm hoping this stone will allow me to keep up razor for quite a while. My question is, assuming I have a decent stropping technique (which I am working on), and assuming I don't do anything dumb like whack the edge against the sink or drop the razor, how far can I get with just the 12k and a strop? Do I still need to pick up a Norton 4/8 or DMT8EE or something like that? Or is the 12k sufficient for touching up an edge indefinitely?


...he asked, hopefully...

I'd say you're sittin pretty.

Do you know if the 12K has been lapped?
If not, you may want to pick up a DMT8C to lap your Chinese stone. The other option would be to have someone lap the stone for you or borrow a lapping stone.

Yes, the stone has been lapped (thankfully, as I understand that can be quite a chore!).

With good technique, you should go "I honestly can't remember the last time I sent this one out to be honed was", long.

X

I use somewhat coarser (lapped) barber hone(s) to maintain all of mine. You should be fine almost forever; unless, like you mentioned, the edge gets accidentally damaged.

The Chinese 12k is so hard, it won't likely need to be re-lapped for decades of personal use.

Terrific, thanks so much, everyone, for the replies. I guess I am set for life as far as hones go, then.



Yeah, right...

It's good to know, though, that barring anything catastrophic I can at least hold off picking up a few more for a while.

Originally Posted by DaveF

Terrific, thanks so much, everyone, for the replies. I guess I am set for life as far as hones go, then.



Yeah, right...

It's good to know, though, that barring anything catastrophic I can at least hold off picking up a few more for a while.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of OZ........


Richard

Sorry, I'm gonna rain on the parade a little...

The 12k will maintain a razor, yes, but if you've never honed a razor before, you might be in for a good deal of frustration depending on your expectations. The 12k is a hard stone and it cuts very slowly, so you'll have to do quite a few strokes to return the blade to a keen shaving condition.

I would also like to add that when you need to lap the stone depends entirely on how you use it. I would say, after every ten uses or so, take the stone to a piece of 1k wet/dry sandpaper on a stable flat surface (counters usually work) and lap it with a little water as lubricant. (save the slurry in a glass container if you can, it makes using the 12k a lot easier)

The longer you go in between lappings, the more work you'll be in for the next time you hone on it because the bevel will have gotten slightly rounded.

If you do invest in another stone, my recommendation would be the Coticule, a very versatile stone.

That said, you should be good to go for a long time. Congrats!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Russel. The plan I had in my mind was to run the razor over the 12k about 20-30 laps every two weeks or so, just to keep up the edge that a pro put on it. If those 20-30 laps turn into 50-60 laps because the stone is a slow cutter, I don't mind...I can certainly use the repetition as practice.

I appreciate the advice about lapping...I don't have any other stones to lap with but I can certainly pick up some sandpaper for that as you suggest. If I understand you correctly, I would lay the sandpaper down on the counter and rub the stone over it, just to ensure that my lapping agent is flat. So the stone is the thing moving in this case and not the paper. Do I have that right?