I needed to lap my hones this last weekend and had no wet/dry sandpaper so I decided I would look for something at the hardware store.
When I got there I thought I'll just get some #320, #600, and #1000 wet/dry and that should be it. My Chosera's are big hones and to get a diamond plate big enough would be a little costly so I have always stuck with the wet/dry sandpaper and open mesh abbrasive cloth (more expensive).
But when I was looking at the diamond plates, that are very small, there was this massive lapping hone sitting at the back of a bottom shelf. It was all dusty and had the Naniwa shrimp mark on the top. The size of the hone is 15 cm by 30 cm. The label said that is was a lapping hone with deep channels and rubber feet. It is rated a #24 grit. I picked it up and it is heavy ... probably 3~4 kg.
I thought about it (I even took it over to the level and ruler section to check the top) and because it is the same make as my Chosera's I decided to get it. Price 4000 Yen.
I got home later at soaked my Chosera hones, grid marked the top and went to work. The size of the lapping hone was awesome. It is so big that the lapping went very quick. Although the grit is #24 it didn't cut as fast as I was worried about. It did marr the surface of the hone BUT, I used the dressing stone that is included in the Chosera purchase and the face of the hone was smooth and slick and ready for action. I lapped both my #3000 and my #5000. I should add that I did do a bit of a polish rub on the top of each hone with the other hone, just to smooth the top as much as possible.
I am a very happy camper and am sure to get lots of use out of this lapping hone.
I love how big it is....
When I got there I thought I'll just get some #320, #600, and #1000 wet/dry and that should be it. My Chosera's are big hones and to get a diamond plate big enough would be a little costly so I have always stuck with the wet/dry sandpaper and open mesh abbrasive cloth (more expensive).
But when I was looking at the diamond plates, that are very small, there was this massive lapping hone sitting at the back of a bottom shelf. It was all dusty and had the Naniwa shrimp mark on the top. The size of the hone is 15 cm by 30 cm. The label said that is was a lapping hone with deep channels and rubber feet. It is rated a #24 grit. I picked it up and it is heavy ... probably 3~4 kg.
I thought about it (I even took it over to the level and ruler section to check the top) and because it is the same make as my Chosera's I decided to get it. Price 4000 Yen.
I got home later at soaked my Chosera hones, grid marked the top and went to work. The size of the lapping hone was awesome. It is so big that the lapping went very quick. Although the grit is #24 it didn't cut as fast as I was worried about. It did marr the surface of the hone BUT, I used the dressing stone that is included in the Chosera purchase and the face of the hone was smooth and slick and ready for action. I lapped both my #3000 and my #5000. I should add that I did do a bit of a polish rub on the top of each hone with the other hone, just to smooth the top as much as possible.
I am a very happy camper and am sure to get lots of use out of this lapping hone.
I love how big it is....
