Thread: Razor eating into hone

I have been honing for a while now, and I now own 15 razors that I hone myself.I use the norton 4000/8000 and the 12k chinese.For lapping I use the Dmt325.To touch up razors I use Thiers-Issard paste.Everything works great, except for one thing: I can't get any good results on that damn chinese stone.Every time I've moved from the 8000, even superlight strokes on the 12k dulls the edge.I've gotten very light and consisting strokes on the norton.As a matter of fact I most often end up shaving from the 8000, with pretty good results after a nice stropping.But pretty good just doesn't cut it for me.
When I try polishing with the 12k it feels like the edge is eating into the stone.No matter how light a touch I use.This happens when I use alot of water or little water, with slurry and without slurry.I always keep it submerged, and I now its completly flat.Could I be roughening up the surface to much with my DMT? I'm completly lost here guys..That stone has used 8 of its 9 life, I'm very close to just throw it out the window.I've resently ordered the shapton 16k and chrom.Ox, so I will probably use that from the 8000 anyway.But I hate the feeling of not mastering something!!!!!
Any inputs would be greatly appriciated.

Merry christmas everyone.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

pretty good results after a nice stropping.But pretty good just doesn't cut it for me.

No idea about your problem with the Chinese stone, but I like your attitude.

The Shapton sweet 16 after the Norton 8k is going to make you sit back and say OMG especially with the fact of your statement that you really don't need it and you can shave off the 8k already, that to my ears means you can hone a razor....
Oh BTW make sure after you flatten the 16k on the dmt rinse the stone then rub it on the 8k that will smooth up the surface and give a much better result... (TY Mparker for teaching me that way back when)

Thanks Glen, so there will be no issues lapping the shapton with my dmt? Shapton recomends using their own lapping stone.(And eventually I will buy the entire collection if its that good.)

I have heard the chinese 12k aren't always pure - ie aren't always pure 12k stone. So you may have gotten a lemon. You get what you pay for sometimes. Sounds like you are on the way to a better hone so maybe the window is the right place for it. I can't see how you'd be ably honing 15 razors on a norton and not be able to handle the 12k, so it's the hone, not you.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

I have heard the chinese 12k aren't always pure - ie aren't always pure 12k stone. So you may have gotten a lemon. You get what you pay for sometimes. Sounds like you are on the way to a better hone so maybe the window is the right place for it. I can't see how you'd be ably honing 15 razors on a norton and not be able to handle the 12k, so it's the hone, not you.

Thank you! I was so frustrated about this.I really have spent so many hours trying to improve my technique with this stone, I've come to the same conclusion: Its the cursed stone, not me.If I'm able to get an ultra fine edge with the shapton.I'll make pebble of the "12k", slowly and painfully that is.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I'm to understand the Chinese 12k is supposed to be a natural hone, so I have no idea why they make reference to its grit. Apparently they're not even 12k either, something like 95% of them are only in the 10k range.

My (dirty)stone have a lot of dark lines in it, could that be some kind of pollution?

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

Thanks Glen, so there will be no issues lapping the shapton with my dmt? Shapton recomends using their own lapping stone.(And eventually I will buy the entire collection if its that good.)

Many of the guys on here use the DMT for lapping the Shaptons and they all say they have great results, personally I bought the whole set but I do a lot of honing, so I figured it was worth it in the long run (I hope I am right ) I really look forward to hear of your results with it....

I have one shapton (and I want MORE MORE MORE), a 1k, and I lap it with the DMT 325 and it works great as far as I can tell.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

My (dirty)stone have a lot of dark lines in it, could that be some kind of pollution?

probably. It might just be some random crap stone mixed in. Go outside and grab a rock and try to hone on it. see if the razor digs in.