Thread: Dialing it in with a Naniwa?

If I have a blade that is sharp and shaves, but just doesn't seem to be quite as sharp as I would like or quite as smooth, would it make sense to try to dial it in using 10-15 laps on a Naniwa 12k? (previously honed up to 8k and then finished on some pastes)

I only ask b/c I have such a blade and just made a purchase including a Naniwa 12k...I figured that might be one of my first "projects" once it comes in the mail.

Opinions? Thanks, guys!

The 12k should help alot from an 8k, not sure if it would be great after past round off though. Could be wrong though.

If the blade is already shave-ready, I think giving it a few laps on the 12k is an excellent idea. I would try the 10-15 like you said, strop and shave. I would try without using any pastes and see if you like it. If the edge still isn't as sharp as you think it could be, you can always try another 10-15 laps on it and test shave again. Once the sharpness is up to par you can always add a little smoothness by stropping on some pasted strops, but the 12k should be good to go on it's own. :gl

There's just no way to answer this. It may be helped with the Naniwa, but it might need more strokes on the 8k, or on the 4k. Experiment and work you way back as needed.

thanks guys...I will try it when it comes in and see how it goes...

Originally Posted by Utopian

There's just no way to answer this. It may be helped with the Naniwa, but it might need more strokes on the 8k, or on the 4k. Experiment and work you way back as needed.

I am +1'n with Ron
I have a general rule that says "Use 2 when Re-Touching"
If you finished on a 8k then to re-touch you need the 4k then 8k that takes you back where you started from then add the 12k to the progression.. the same rule would apply next time after you return from the 12k you would drop to the 8k then the 12k and be back where you started from.... I do the same for Shaptons too re-touch would be the 8k and the 16k ..... so your re-touch would always be the last 2 stones that you used....

I've just orderd 12k naniwa but i should imagine it could improve on already shave ready blade then may be not if the egde is up to par. I finish on the bbw/coti and for touch i would go back to both its gauranteed to work for me that is.If it did'nt i'd drop back to a tiny pyramid on my 4k/8k 3/3 1/5 1/5 then bbw yellow and of coars my new 12k naniwa test and shave if good may or may not add ch.5

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am +1'n with Ron
I have a general rule that says "Use 2 when Re-Touching"
If you finished on a 8k then to re-touch you need the 4k then 8k that takes you back where you started from then add the 12k to the progression.. the same rule would apply next time after you return from the 12k you would drop to the 8k then the 12k and be back where you started from.... I do the same for Shaptons too re-touch would be the 8k and the 16k ..... so your re-touch would always be the last 2 stones that you used....

I really like that rule. I've pretty much followed it without knowing it was a rule!

The really nice thing about honing your own razors is THERE IS NO RUSH! You are perfectly entitled to sneak up on a good edge over the course of several absolutely minimal honing sessions. The advantage of this is it gives you a much better sense of just what it takes to dial in your razor and you accomplish this by getting direct feedback between each honing session with a shave!

Glen & Utopian,

I just thought of a question about going back to the stones. I know from Lynn's experience he suggests approx. 10 laps and sometimes needs and additional 5-10 laps after that, so I have a rough idea of # of laps to use for the Naniwa. But......if I end up dropping back to the 8k in the future (in order to hit the last 2 stones I've honed with) then roughly how many laps should I attempt? I tend to use the pyramid when honing, so would I do approx. 5-10 on the 8k, as the last bit of the pyramid has you performing 5 laps on 8k?

any help would be great.

The great thing about the Naniwa is that you can feel when you are done. I'm not to the point of mastery over the stone, but I can feel the progression.

Either case, I would start with 2-5 laps on the 8k and then jump to the 12k. 12k is for smoothness, 8k is for sharpness IMHO.