Thread: Why is this lapping taking sooo long???

On natural stones I'm alot mor forgiving on full area flatness. As jimmy pointed ou about checking the honing path to see if the area in question is a problem. Naturals are a limited item and once used up cannot be replaced, so I take a minimal amount of material off and learn to use what I can on that one stone. Synthetics I have no problem grinding away as someone will just make more...

Keep the pressure light.

when lapping a rock it is too easy to rock the hone
and make it rounder and rounder.

Try strokes in only one direction till you get a flat region.

Try figure eight strokes once you get a
flat surface and can detect zero rocking.

In normal honing the rock will have a cup in it
and the edges will lap first. This seems
inside out.

If the majority of the top is flat -- use it with a
light touch and apply your rubbing stone to the
high spots.

Others mentioned using X strokes....
A variety of strokes can match a hone to a razor
or a razor to the hone....

No rush in washing the hone down the drain....

Perhaps that coticule is possessed -- send it my way and I will send the evil spirits packing. Be advised that it might take some time.

Originally Posted by kevint

What is the substrate the paper is on?

Where did you learn to make circular motions. Sometimes circles are ok but imho most prone to inaccuracy.

I would agree that the corners are not all that important.

I put the paper on a piece of finished marble slab (about 10" X 5") and I learned to use circular motions from SRP wiki "lapping 101". It said you could use circles or figure 8's according to your preference.

I really appreciate everybody's input, especially the very relieving advice/confirmation that the corners could be left alone for now.

And BTW stimpy, thanks for putting the idea in my head that my stone may be possessed as I go into my first attempt at honing!

the best motion is front and back alternating left and right to form a sorta X; turning the stone end to end (often)to keep pressure application issues equalized helps as well.

Forget about the corners, they are of no importance when honing.

I agree with that Randy. But I question why, because typical use results in high corners and ends -dished in the middle.

3 hours on a coticule should do it I'd think.

Which is the reason for my pointing out making circles is not the best approach and just perhaps the cause of low corners which in the extremes of accuracy would require some deft hand work to have equalized pressure as you come round and round

Whatta ya think?

Kevint...... I have the same question about his lapping and the results so far.
I will try to explain what I do if the OP wants me to.
Maybe he has it sorted out by now.

I picked the Xs technique that Kevin mentioned from the Shapton USA site's old FAQ. Also turn the stone every so often and I'm under running water getting rid of the swarf as I go. I imagine if swarf was allowed to build it could lead to inaccuracies.

That sounds like what I do. Works well for me. Thanks Jimmy.
Are any graphics available on that?