Hi Randy,

Dry lapping is very instructive and helpful, particularly when lapping fine grit hones. When lapping dry, it is important to use only another hone of a similar composition and grit. (As you know, if you were to lap a fine peach and cream hone with an Apart you'd have a real mess. The Apart would simply load up with the softer composite). When lapping the Premier with an Apart, the Premier slowly comes up to a mirror like polish; the Apart also polishes up but much more gradually.

Lapping dry shows very clearly, the sublte variations in the surface of the hone, whereas using water does not. You'll quickly discover that it is not at all as flat as it should be for an fine grit hone. Any variation in the surface will diminish its effectiveness. The finer the grit the flatter the hone should be. Dry lapping my Premier using this method transformed it into a ultra fine grit hone. I have no idea what grit number it is now; I do know it is very very flat and very very smooth, making it an ideal surface for its intended purpose. There is more contact between the blade and the hone, so it cuts more effectively. Try it and let me know what you think.

Hal