Do lapping stones need maintenance?

Pretty straightforward question...

Do lapping stones ever need to be lapped themselves? Does the grit ever need to be somehow cleaned?

DMT no,
others yes, they need flattening from time to time too.

Depends on what type it is and what you lap. For instance, Naniwa water stones are soft, so I wouldn't expect them to do much to a lapper. On the otherhand, lapping a translucent arkansas or a spyderco ultrafine can crater just about anything.

Hi,

The Norton & Naniwa flattening stones do need to be flattened themsleves after a period of use. Exactly when depends on what hones they have been used on etc

I use wet 320 grit carbide paper on a flat peice of glass to re-flatten them.

Have fun !

best regards

Russ