First go at honing and some questions

[jrward2]

Hello everyone. I recently got a set of naniwa 1k, 5k, 8k, and 12k stones. I also bought the naniwa lapping plate as well. My first hone went really well suprisingly. I think it should be a nice edge, we will see tomorrow morning. Anyway, after using the 1k and 5k I got some gray/black stains on the stone from the razor. I rinsed most of the metal off the stone but some still remained. Is this normal? I just don't want to mess up these expensive stones. Also when it comes to lapping, will the naniwa 220 lapping plate do the trick for all the grits? And will I need to sand down the lapping plate before lapping as well?

Thanks

 

[Legion]

That is normal. It is called swarf, and it is tiny particles of steel clogging up the pores of the stone. Lapping gets rid of it, or you can rub the soaked stones together under running water, that works too.

The lapping stone should not need lapping. That plate should work for all grits.