I got both of these as a gift back in December and I swear the 12k is actually coarser than the 5k. I thought maybe it was a quality-control issue, so I exchanged the 12k for a new one, but now this one also feels like it's more coarse. The 5k leaves a mirror polish and when I move on to the 12k it leaves scratches--and yes I'm cleaning off any left over swarf. What's more is that just the feedback of grinding on the 12k feels way rougher than on the 5k. Can't really notice a difference in sharpness or comfort of shave between the two though. So it's not really a huge deal in that regard, but just kind of feeling like the 12k was a waste if I could get the same results on the 5k.
I'm wondering if it's an effect of using the two hones to flatten each other. Either the 5k is finer than it should be as a result of being lapped against the 12k; or the 12k is coarser than it should be as a result of being lapped against the 5k. When I'm done, the surface of each is as reflective as glass. However, I tested this theory by polishing a few knives on both to wear away the top layer of the hone and get to the "true" grit underneath, and to me the 12k still felt more coarse.
Is there any room for perception just not being fact? Maybe it just feels coarser because it's cutting more aggressively than the 5k? I'm just kind of feeling like I don't need the 12k. I mean sure I guess it is useful for lapping the 5k, but could a diamond plate do that and get it done in half the time? My thought against that, is that a diamond plate would leave the 5k surface so rough I couldn't finish off it. But I also wonder if I'm just saying that to try to find some way to appreciate the 12k.
So now I'm doing a weird half-backward progression of honing on the 12k, finishing on the 5k and stropping. "If it works don't fix it," comes to mind, but it bothers me a little.
Anyway, not really a review but just sharing my impressions and wondering how other peoples' experiences have differed.
I'm wondering if it's an effect of using the two hones to flatten each other. Either the 5k is finer than it should be as a result of being lapped against the 12k; or the 12k is coarser than it should be as a result of being lapped against the 5k. When I'm done, the surface of each is as reflective as glass. However, I tested this theory by polishing a few knives on both to wear away the top layer of the hone and get to the "true" grit underneath, and to me the 12k still felt more coarse.
Is there any room for perception just not being fact? Maybe it just feels coarser because it's cutting more aggressively than the 5k? I'm just kind of feeling like I don't need the 12k. I mean sure I guess it is useful for lapping the 5k, but could a diamond plate do that and get it done in half the time? My thought against that, is that a diamond plate would leave the 5k surface so rough I couldn't finish off it. But I also wonder if I'm just saying that to try to find some way to appreciate the 12k.
So now I'm doing a weird half-backward progression of honing on the 12k, finishing on the 5k and stropping. "If it works don't fix it," comes to mind, but it bothers me a little.
Anyway, not really a review but just sharing my impressions and wondering how other peoples' experiences have differed.