Thread: Need some hone lapping advice

These are the hones I have: Escher, Norton 4k/8k, Norton 220grit/1k, C12k and a couple barber hones.

I've been using a marble tile and sandpaper to lap thus far. Every time I lap I make a mess out of the kitchen. I'd like to streamline the process.

From what I've read in the archives and the lapping howto on the wiki, I'm leaning toward purchasing the DMT8C - 325 grit. For everyday maintenance, will that work with all the hones I've listed? Is that the best choice for everyday maintenance or should I be looking at the DMT8XC - 220 grit? Can I hone right off of a 220 or 325 grit lap, with all of those hones, or do I need to get a higher grit DMT, 600 or 1000 grit as well?
Thanks,

it will work with almost all of them.
the only one i am not sure is the norton 220. diamonds are harder than that, but i don't know if that coarse of a hone would be prone to gouging them out.

you don't need to smooth the lapped surface further.

the only thing you need to lap continuously is the nortons and it's just to refresh the surface, not real lapping.

I cannot speak about the DMT…. I don’t have one.

However you could get a 9x9 or 12x12 inch sheet of ¼ inch glass and an old towel or non-slip mat larger then the glass. Place the mat on the kitchen counter with glass on top and lap with sandpaper. While lapping the excess slurry will fall on the mat (not the kitchen counter). When done lapping, simply lift the mat and glass and wash in the sink.

If you decide to get the DMT you should get a mat as well because it is still a messy job.
However I believe some folks lap the stone with the DMT in the sink under running water thus avoiding the mat altogether, but other may chime in with better advice.

Hope this helps.

IME the D8C is the best all around. I haven't tried the D8X but I do have the D8XX. The latter is ideal for barber hones. DMT Dia Sharp recommends the X and says that the C is fine if you do it under running water. Actually that is the suggestion for all of them.

Anything finer than the C is not recommended for lapping by Dia Sharp. Some members have ruined finer plates lapping waterstones with the 600 or the 1200. I have lapped stone after stone with the C and it is still going strong.

Anything coarser than 1k, such as your 220, I would use sandpaper.