3 Naniwas, Escher, & DMT Help me decide

[grump]

Hello all,

I would like to be able to take razors from start to finish. Setting bevel, refining the bevel, and finish. I would also like to be able to hone out small chips if necessary.

I would like to compliment my vintage Escher. I also have a Balsa CroOx strop.

I would like to purchase 3 more hones, such as 1k, 5k, 8k Naniwa super stones or a DMT, & 3k, 8k Naniwas super stones or something on that line.

Should I enter a 12k into this?

Also should I purchase a Naniwa flattening stone or just a DMT?

Let me hear your combination suggestions an why.

Thank you in advance. Feel free to PM me if you like.

 

[mainaman]

1,3,8k, should be a good start and if you feel that the Escher does not work well after the 8k add a 12k
Naniwa flattening stone is a bad investment, because it will eventually also need flattening, so my vote goes for a DMT.

 

[domino]

1,3,8k, should be a good start and if you feel that the Escher does not work well after the 8k add a 12k
Naniwa flattening stone is a bad investment, because it will eventually also need flattening, so my vote goes for a DMT.

Thanks for pointing that out..

 

[professorchaos]

DMT 1.2K for setting bevels, Nainwa 3K and 8K.

 

[grump]

DMT 1.2K for setting bevels, Nainwa 3K and 8K.

Thank you and what about lapping?

 

[professorchaos]

You could use the DMT, but I like to dedicate something to lapping. If I don't go too long between lappings, I just use a $30 DMT mesh hone that I picked up at Home Depot. It also creates slurries (yes, I use them) quite well.

 

[superbleu]

Thank you and what about lapping?

DMT Coarse (325grit) seems to be a favorite for lapping. You can also use it to repair ebay specials if you are so inclined.

For now if you like the finish of the escher, just get the 1k, 5k, and 8K Naniwa.
The DMT 1200 is faster, but leaves bigger scratches than the Nani 1K so you will have to do more laps on the 5K. But the choice is yours.

 

[treydampier]

I currently have the DMT plus the Naniwa 1K, 5K, 8K and 12K. Since you have an Escher, I would probably skip the 12K, but I never cared for the 3K stones because they are essentially to begin polishing like the 5K. I say the Escher should be your finisher because you have balsa and CrOX. I would definitely get the DMT because it works well for removing chips with more efficiency than the 1K and it makes lapping much easier.
Its up to you though.
Good Luck!

 

[Utopian]

Yes the Naniwa and Norton lapping hones occasionally need to be lapped themselves, but it is quite easy to do with a flat surface (even a countertop will suffice) and any coarse wet/dry sandpaper. I really like the DMT8C and DMT8XX and DGLP plates that I have but if you want to save money the Naniwa lapping plate will work just fine and can be restored to flat with a cheap piece of sandpaper.

It's simply a matter of convenience versus cost. You have to choose your own price tipping point.

 

[danjared]

My vote is for a DMT D8E and a coticule (that's already been lapped once)!

 

[Utopian]

My vote is for a DMT D8E and a coticule (that's already been lapped once)!

Well, that would work if you plan on using the DMT8E for bevel setting and the coticule for the rest of the honing. However, you should not use the 8E for lapping.

 

[Chimensch]

My vote is for a DMT D8E and a coticule (that's already been lapped once)!

Well, that would work if you plan on using the DMT8E for bevel setting and the coticule for the rest of the honing. However, you should not use the 8E for lapping.

I use the coticule with slurry for bevel setting too, just because I'm a purist. The coticule laps up nicely with 400/1000 grit abrasive paper and you don't have to do it as often as with a synthetic hone. That said, there are many ways to sharp and it's the profusion of choices that makes it confusing.

I would also like to add that I prefer narrow hones because it's easier to hone slightly warped blades.

 

[Seraphim]

I heartily recommend the DMT 1200 for bevel setting.

Why? because a bevel setter must be a workhorse, the hone that does the heavy lifting and slugging it out in the trenches.....The DMT cuts fast, never needs lapping (truly, unlike Spydercos which claim to not need lapping, but actually do...). No slurries, no soaking, no nothing, just DMT that edge bevel into submission! Once broken in, the DMT will not leave deep scratches at all, has been my experience.

After that, the choice is up to you. Naniwa 3 & 8, as Henry says would be as good as any. Follow up the 8k with some chromox on a strop of choice, and you'll be styling.

 

[professorchaos]

I heartily recommend the DMT 1200 for bevel setting.

Why? because a bevel setter must be a workhorse, the hone that does the heavy lifting and slugging it out in the trenches.....The DMT cuts fast, never needs lapping (truly, unlike Spydercos which claim to not need lapping, but actually do...). No slurries, no soaking, no nothing, just DMT that edge bevel into submission! Once broken in, the DMT will not leave deep scratches at all, has been my experience.

After that, the choice is up to you. Naniwa 3 & 8, as Henry says would be as good as any. Follow up the 8k with some chromox on a strop of choice, and you'll be styling.

Exactly why I love the DMT 1200 for setting bevels. While I have other hones which could fill the role, invariably I grab the DMT.

 

[superbleu]

After last night's honing experience I change my vote to the DMT 1200.

 

[sproosemoose]

I'd skip the 12k since you got an Escher

 

[Sparq]

6'' DMT Dia Sharp Coarse/Fine and a Coti/BBW combo is all you need even for heavy restoration work.

 

[SliceOfLife]

DMT EF (1200) (Or C/EF duo so the C can be your lapper).
Naniwa (3000)
DMT EE (8000)
Naniwa (10000)

That's what I'd go with if I had the cash. I currently go 1200 to 8000 to escher, but I imagine the Naniwa's would speed things up a touch.

The problem I'd expect with a Naniwa 12000 would be that it is probably pretty close in finish to that an Escher gives, so it may be a bit redundant. Though I do not know, that's what I suspect.

 

[gugi]

I haven't honed many razors, probably around 200-300 with setting the bevel on DMT-EF and 200-300 with setting the bevel on Naniwa 1000.

So with this experience, if I had to choose it'll be Naniwa 1000, 5000, 8000. The Naniwa 1000 is more versatile hone than the DMT-EF.

But you can hone razors either way, the hone you are using is not the most important part.

 

[Disburden]

This is my routine:

Naniwa 1k if the bevel needs work
NOrton 4k
norton 8k
naniwa 12K
Vintage big Escher with labels and fancy box, etc etc on slurry


Works like a charm! Sham over at SRP helped me out with telling me the Escher works very well after the Naniwa 12K and not right after the 8K side of the Norton.