I just got a Naniwa 12,000 superstone. Can I lap it with a Norton flattening stone or a DMT hone? Do I need to soak the stone before using or just spray it down? Anything else I should know about these stones?
Naniwa 12,000 Questions
- Thread starter Bay Rum
- Start date
I have lapped mine with both the norton and a DMT, DMT is easier to lap with IMO.
I don't soak my stone, just wet it down and then keep some water on it when honing.
I don't soak my stone, just wet it down and then keep some water on it when honing.
/Hijacks Thread 
How long does this stone typically last? I read on thesuperiorshave.com that the 12K need to be lapped frequently. I would imagine that the stone would eventually wear out.
How long does this stone typically last? I read on thesuperiorshave.com that the 12K need to be lapped frequently. I would imagine that the stone would eventually wear out.
DMT 320 (or is it 325).
Don't soak the Naniwa stones! Do it under running water to keep the DMT plate from loading up with swarf.
Don't soak the Naniwa stones! Do it under running water to keep the DMT plate from loading up with swarf.
/Hijacks Thread
How long does this stone typically last? I read on thesuperiorshave.com that the 12K need to be lapped frequently. I would imagine that the stone would eventually wear out.
It probably needs lapped more often than others but I doubt one with a moderate collection would ever use one up in a lifetime. Now, someone that does a ton of razors might but it would still take a long time.
- Thread starter
- #8
You mean before honing correct?
I never soak my stones for lapping or honing (the exception being nortons).
For lapping, I do it under water, for honing, I just spray some water on it and let it soak for a minute or 2 then go to work.
You will never wear out the Naniwa 12K, even if you lap it frequently. I've honed maybe 1,000 razors on my Naniwa 12K and I can barely see any hone has been used.
That is not true for the lower grit Naniwas though. At least, in my honing pattern, the higher the grit size, the less hone is worn away.
After I use a Naniwa hone, I scrub it thoroughly with a terry cloth rag to remove swarf. (I rinse it in a basin with water to remove cloth fibers before using the next time.) Scrubbing off the swarf that way increases the number of razors I can hone before having to relap the hone.
That is not true for the lower grit Naniwas though. At least, in my honing pattern, the higher the grit size, the less hone is worn away.
After I use a Naniwa hone, I scrub it thoroughly with a terry cloth rag to remove swarf. (I rinse it in a basin with water to remove cloth fibers before using the next time.) Scrubbing off the swarf that way increases the number of razors I can hone before having to relap the hone.
i just scrub mine with the yellow nagura stone it works great
Green scotchbrite pad works great too.
/Hijacks Thread
I read on thesuperiorshave.com that the 12K need to be lapped frequently.
Hijacks thread as well
Uhg, all that lapping and lapping and lapping and lapping with the DMT 8C made me sell my set.
By the time I started honing, I hated the @%$*&* stones!
The 12K was actually not bad, but the 8K for some reason, would take forever.
It's too bad, because from what I understand, they give very nice edges.
Now I just send my razors out to a professional
.I thought you can just rinse the swarf away. Would any cloth, sponge, or steel wool do the job?
I wouldn't use use steel wool, but a scrubby kitchen/cleaning sponge works great for removing built up swarf.
Do use a sponge that is dedicated to the hones only.
Assuming I don't do any major damage to the razor, would a Naniwa 12K be suited to maintain a razor indefinitely?
I did a touch up on the Naniwa 12K, worked good for me.
It may take a few strokes, but the 12K superstone will give you a very decent shave 
Once you get past all that crud left by the sticker...
Extended? yes. Indefinitely? probably not. You will need to keep the stone flat for longer effectiveness, but as the edge deteriorates, you'll need more and more strokes to refresh the edge. If you use a pasted strop as well, it will take more work to refresh the edge on the 12K.
Once you get past all that crud left by the sticker...
Extended? yes. Indefinitely? probably not. You will need to keep the stone flat for longer effectiveness, but as the edge deteriorates, you'll need more and more strokes to refresh the edge. If you use a pasted strop as well, it will take more work to refresh the edge on the 12K.
Last edited:
