Touch-up question

[maplemaker]

How many laps on what grit is good for a touch up on an edge? I'm starting to feel the need for a little work on my wapi. Last time I went through two of Lynn's honing pyramids and got it back, but I want to catch the edge before it needs all that work again, if I can. I'm thinking 12k stone, diamond paddle and then leather strop should do it, I just don't know the laps for the stone or if I can do it like that. Do I have to go through a whole sharpening again?

[Leon]

How many laps on what grit is good for a touch up on an edge? I'm starting to feel the need for a little work on my wapi. Last time I went through two of Lynn's honing pyramids and got it back, but I want to catch the edge before it needs all that work again, if I can. I'm thinking 12k stone, diamond paddle and then leather strop should do it, I just don't know the laps for the stone or if I can do it like that. Do I have to go through a whole sharpening again?

Hi.

Use a diamond pasted paddle strop or better yet, a CrO pasted paddle strop. Then hit the linen and then the leather.
How many laps on the paddle? Few. Try 10. If it's not good, try another 10 and so on.

[Russel Baldridge]

You can maintain a good edge with just the Chinese 12k, though it may take quite a few laps.

Most natural stones don't form a wire edge like the nortons do, so counting the number pf passes is not as crucial. Just start with like 50 passes, I "test shave" a small portion of my fore arm (the underside that has finer hair, and isn't as visible) to see whether the edge is progressing or not. I've heard of guys doing a couple hundred passes on the Chinese 12k and getting good results, so I'd say give it a shot.

[chem_fun]

BAH!!!

Underside of your arm??? I've been playing with my hones. My left arm only has hair about 1/4" long. I shaved it all off and had to start with the right arm.

Thanks for the info about the 12k. Do people shave right off the 12k, or do they hit the Cr and leather after the 12k?

[Russel Baldridge]

You can just use plain leather after the 12k, or CrO if you want.

[Lynn]

If the diamond paddle is .5 micron, you can just try 10 light strokes and then strop and test. If the 12K is a Chinese, it may take 20 or so strokes and then follow with the .5, strop and test.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Lynn

[maplemaker]

Thanks, guys. Took it to the diamond balsa last night and that's all it needed.