Thread: The wiki ``what hone(s) do I need'' page (was: strop side)

(replying to my thread here because this has (almost) nothing to do with my silly strop side mistake.)

Originally Posted by Hogrider

Vincent, as pointed out, the 12K is a polishing stone. Yes, you can use the 8K for touch up....my advice is to purchase the 5K and 8K Naniwas to touch up the blade,and when your budget allows it buy the 12K Naniwa. Go to the Wiki and read on the Pyramid honing method written by Lynn Abrams before you try to hone your razor.

Thanks, will do. The 12K has already shipped. Actually, I'm a bit curious as I selected the 12K grit following the ``What hone(s) do I need?'' wiki page:

``If the only task you want to perform is refreshing edges that have previously been established by a Honemeister [...], you need only get a fine grit finishing stone'' followed by ``A finishing stone _10k and above_''.

Did I read this incorrectly? Now that I have paid for the 12K, should I still fork out more money for a 8K? (note: I am not blaming the purchase on the wiki page, I'm just trying to understand this correctly) [%]

Thanks in advance for any advice, (a reference would be fine, except there is now a slight indication that I can't read :-)

--Vincent

[%] Quickly: I stropped for many months on the wrong side of my strop (!). I can shave with the razors (I did yesterday), but the shave isn't close or comfortable. I was originally asking for confirmation of my mistake (done) and then advice as to whether the hone I had already bought (12K) would be appropriate to restore the edge, or if I would need to buy a coarser one. The updated question is whether one of the 12K/8K could do both getting the 2 razors back in shape and then maintaining them.

Stop and take a breath !!!

Re-read the info, the razor you are getting from Lynn if you re-fresh that on a 12k before it goes "dead dull" you will be fine...

The razor(s) you were stropping wrong might be too far gone or "dead dull" for just the 12k ...

A polishing stone is just that, they do not cut metal very well at all...

For a re-fresh my normal recommendation is jump back two...

Say you were using the Naniwa set and you used the 1-3-5-8-12 then I would say jump back two stones to re-fresh so the 8k and 12k...

hope that helps explain it

If you have a 12k that should be sufficient for a while. Eventually if the edge gets damaged you would need rougher hones than a 12k.

Did you order the C12k from woodcraft.com?

You will need to lap that thing to make sure it's flat once you get it. Also, it might be worthwhile to create a fine slurry on it before using it, since it is a very slow stone, and doing 100 laps, the chances of a newbie rolling the edge by accident will be high.

I think some of the guys have one of the pocket size DMT stones to create slurries with. I don't know what grits they come in, but you'd probably be safe with something around 1200 for creating a slurry. Or if you have access to someone that could cut a small piece off your stone to use as a slurry stone, that would be better.

So long story short, no you don't need an 8k if you've got a 12k, and only plan on touching up your already sharp razors. Sorry for the long winded response

Thanks to you two, it was clear indeed. And thanks for the reminder to breathe, though I was doing that already! (See footnote [%])

No, I did not buy the hone from woodcraft.com, but from fendrihan.com.

For lapping purposes I was thinking of starting with the advice on the wiki: Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Wiki
for low-cost lapping.

I understand that my bad stropping means the razors will require more work, and I will probably send them to be sharpened by someone experienced. I'm now reassured that after that the 12K stone should be ok, as long as I don't do anything else that stupid :-) And have time until then to read up before the blades need to be touched up. (note: I bought the 12K stone _before_ I realized what I had been doing with the strop, otherwise I would have asked for advice before and not after the purchase

Thanks again!

--Vincent
[%] I've noticed that a common flaw for people expressing themselves in another language is coarseness in expression that can sometimes be read as aggressivity and/or impatience. I'm terribly sorry if I express myself so, it is not on purpose.

Originally Posted by vnc

(replying to my thread here because this has (almost) nothing to do with my silly strop side mistake.)



Thanks, will do. The 12K has already shipped. Actually, I'm a bit curious as I selected the 12K grit following the ``What hone(s) do I need?'' wiki page:

``If the only task you want to perform is refreshing edges that have previously been established by a Honemeister [...], you need only get a fine grit finishing stone'' followed by ``A finishing stone _10k and above_''.

Did I read this incorrectly? Now that I have paid for the 12K, should I still fork out more money for a 8K? (note: I am not blaming the purchase on the wiki page, I'm just trying to understand this correctly) [%]

Thanks in advance for any advice, (a reference would be fine, except there is now a slight indication that I can't read :-)

--Vincent

[%] Quickly: I stropped for many months on the wrong side of my strop (!). I can shave with the razors (I did yesterday), but the shave isn't close or comfortable. I was originally asking for confirmation of my mistake (done) and then advice as to whether the hone I had already bought (12K) would be appropriate to restore the edge, or if I would need to buy a coarser one. The updated question is whether one of the 12K/8K could do both getting the 2 razors back in shape and then maintaining them.

You should be better than fine with the 12k for maintaining
a previously shave ready blade. Use the same number of
tape strips the honemaster did.

Should you roll the edge when stropping or honing, cut cardboard or otherwise abuse the edge more than the 12K can recover you have the choice of sending it out or picking up one or more of the pre 12K hones. You can do the math based on a 4/8K Norton which is a common work horse. You can also do the math in the same family of hones that the 12K is in.