Thread: How do you know your hone needs lapped?

I lap my Shaptons (16K & 30K) before every honing session. Now, I don;t mean I grid it, and go till the lines are gone. I just refresh the surface each time with a DMT8F.

I seem to recall discussion that the polymeric resin (or some other scientific-sounding jargon) would swell with water, and not shrink uniformly after drying. This could cause high spots in the honing surface, and result in problems while honing.

I believe the swelling/shrinking/warping mostly referred to the Pro line of hones which were all resin. Shapton introduced the glass hones , partially as an attempt to reduce that problem, though to be honest I don't think it ever was a *real* problem, but rather a geeky, yes it actually exists and can be measured.... barely, issue. The other problem with the Pro hones, was the reports that they would break easily when worn to about half their thickness and again, the glass hone substrate of the new hones will allow you to use *all* the abrasive without such problems.

Personally, I follow the advice I once received in a fortune cookie which read" Never trouble trouble unless trouble troubles you." or as I would phrase it: If it works, don't fix it!

Regards

Christian