Hi guys, i am wanting to get a good finishing hone. I have water stones up to a J Nat 10k, but would like something in the 12-16k range. I am not wanting to spend $500, but still want a decent stone, any suggestions?
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Hi guys, i am wanting to get a good finishing hone. I have water stones up to a J Nat 10k, but would like something in the 12-16k range. I am not wanting to spend $500, but still want a decent stone, any suggestions?
I'm sure what you have is plenty i carn't se anything else making much differance..If you want to try somthing differant how about 12k naniwa
Welcome to SRP. I'm with Gary on the 12k naniwa. The 16k shapton glass stone is also in the same price range and is a proven stone that a lot of guys like.
I've only ever used a Norton 4/8 and a Shapton 16k, so I don't have a lot of experience with different hones, but I really like the Shapton 16k. It's easy to use (no soaking) and fast. Normally only ten laps and I'm done, 20 for my Swedish razors with the harder steel...
<------ Confused
You have a Japanese Natural water stone that is 10k ????
Hi Mike,
Welcome to SRP!!
What other stones are you using beside the Jnat? If they're good stones/hones and if the Jnat is a good stone and your not getting a good shaving edge, a higher grit finisher is probably not going to help.
If your getting good edges and want that little extra, then as stated above, the 16k Shapton is an excellent choice. But, it or any of the others are not going to put an impressive edge on an already lacking edge.
Good Luck!!! And if you haven't read through our wiki, etc. there's lots of good info there. Link below.
Best Regards,
Howard. :)
I read it as, -- he has water stones that lead up to his highest grit stone, a JNat 10K. --
Sorry, i should have been more informative about what i have. I have a Shapton 320, a bester 500, beston 1200, a king 800/6k combo, a shapton 5k and a 10k jnat. I am using a homemade strop that is clean with no compounds, cowhide. I know it is not optimal, just what i have right now lol
Assuming you are correct that the j-nat is 10k it seems like to me that the 16k glass stone would be the one. The 12k naniwa would probably be real close to what you already have. OTOH maybe some chrom-ox and/or diamond spray or paste on a separate surface. Some dedicated leather, felt or balsa for a bench strop is another alternative.
I have some balsa i bought with the intention of making a green chrome strop. I also have 1 micron diamond, but i was told that might be too rough. I will make a few more strop pieces and test out some different sprays and powders. Up to this point, i send them to Tim Zowada for honing, and keep them as best as i can from stropping, but i think i will try the 10k and strop it from there and see. Thanks for all of the responses, i greatly appreciate it.
Mike,
I think the best "bang for the buck" is the Chinese 12K. It is very important to finish lap it with 1500 to 2000 grit Silicon Carbide paper. If lapped well, it will take out 8000 - 10,000 grit scratches. The other stones mentioned above are good too. But, it is hard to beat the Chinese stone, if it is lapped well. This is coming from a guy that still has four Eschers...
I just finished an article for Knives 2014 that will show micrographs of how the edge is refined between 4000 grit and the final stropping. While I was doing the microscope photos, I was shocked at the difference that was made by changing the lapping on the finish stones. I will check with F&W to see if I can release a few of the photos.
0.5 Micron Chromium Oxide on Balsa will completely remove all scratches from a well lapped 12K stone. It is important that the Chromium Oxide just fills the pores of the Balsa, and is not a thick layer on the top.
Come up sometime. We will drag out the microscope, and I'll show you how things work.
I hope this helps.
Tim Z.
Thanks a ton Tim!!! I had forgotten what stone you had said and didn't want to call and bug you again. I wrote it down, and lost the paper i wrote it on. I will get that ordered this week and see if i can get a good edge :) I will for sure take you up on the offer, but it is looking like it will be after christmas.
Thanks
Mike
Jnats do not have grit ratings, so it is impossible to have a 10k rated Jnat.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeDavis
The question is is it not giving you the edge that you like because you are not using it correctly or because it is not a finisher.
How do you use that stone?
After a nice talk with Tim, i found out 2 things. I was lapping my stone wrong, and i don't think it is a jnat. It is marked 10000 on one end. I have minimal knowledge about stones, and i either was misinformed or misread, my fault...no biggie. I was lapping it on a fine diamond plate, which works great for getting them flat, but it leaves a harsh finish. I am going to relap my stone and try again. As far as how i am sharpening, i put tape on the spine, and do edge trailing strokes, with very little pressure. Here is a picture of the stone.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...-41-51_797.jpg
Not that a picture is very helpful, it is medium hard, i can still score it if i am not careful, but for a kitchen knife, it leaves a decent edge. Excited to see how it will work with a nice lap.
Mike
So in effect you're using your hone as if it was a strop ? AFAIC edge leading strokes is a better way to hone. I won't even qualify that with YMMV. Give it a try while you're experimenting, you may like the results.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeDavis
Thanks! I will. I will test it tonight for sure, and let you know how it works out!
Hi Mike,
I saw your intro in member introductions and you have quite a bit of experience with knives. One of the hardest things for knife sharpeners to accept, and I was one, is that the razor is a totally different animal and you just can't treat them the same. Here's a link to gssixgun, Glen's honing videos. He covers technique for razors and on most any hone generally accepted as good for razors. YouTube
Good Luck!!
Regards,
Howard. :)
Mike,Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeDavis
I just realized you are also on KKF, recognized the 10k JKS stone.
If that stone is anything like 10k Super stone you should be getting good edges from it to shave. Use a CrO or Diamond spray bench strop after the stone and then hanging fabric/leather strop and you are set. If you want to go higher on the finishing end of the stone spectrum, you have many options.