Thread: Lapping a 1 k king

I followed the video on lapping from gsixgun. I drew the grid on my king as shown used a quality 320 grit sandpaper . Within seconds the grid was gone I rounded the edges best I could. My question is could it possibly be that quick to lap a hone. I used it to set a bevel on a razor seemed to work nicely... Is it lapped?

If you want to be sure you can repeat once or twice.

The first time it would come off rather quickly because it already comes very flat and that is what lapping is for, to flatten the stone. Lapping the stone before the first use is also for taking some of the surface off so you can get down to where it is really smooth as a lot of stones come in a little grittier (lol if thats a word) than what is beneath the surface. I know the Nortons are especially this way. On the Nortons it is recommended that you take of about 1/8 inch before you put a blade to it. I took off about the same on my King.

In my experience, the King's lap easier than the other popular synthetics. Probably has to do with it being a clay based stone, unlike the other synthetics.

yeah, it's quite a soft stone. Another light lapping won't hurt of you are not convinced it's flat.

the hone should be good to go especially if it set a bevel well for you!

I just picked one up yesterday & after soaking, it lapped in all of 30 sec w/ my well worn D8C! A little slower than the Norton 1k, but leaves a very smooth bevel, perfect for the Ax Method. It also speeds up a lot if you use coticule slurry on it. Then just go to water only to fine tune the bevel.

I've used these stones for years, though not with razors.

They are very soft stones indeed and should lap easily.

I wouldn't rely on the pencil grid test, myself, with a stone so soft and friable as the King. I'd recommend using a small straightedge (a thin $2 steel ruler works fine) to test the flatness of the stone in both directions. Better to test when dry, though I don't bother.

Make sure that you use a figure-eight motion and apply almost no pressure when lapping. Otherwise, although you'll have no pencil cross-hatch, you'll end up with a stone which is either unflat, or unparallel (less important, though very annoying).