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How often should one lap a shapton stone? They seem to be slow dishing
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Lapping shapton pro/glass lapping
- Thread starter linuxology
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Obviously, it depends on the amount of use, and which stone (a 500g stone will dish faster than a 2000g stone for example), but IMO, lapping a stone should be considered part of the sharpening process... and should be done on a regular basis. It's easier to keep a stone flat, than it is to reflatten one that has started to dish. For me, it's easier to just check for flatness by running the stone across a lapping plate a couple of times, than it is to wonder if it's flat, or get a flat ruler out to check it. And it seems (on other stones that wear faster), once a stone starts to dish, it'll dish faster.
I don't think a set rule can be given, for example flatten after every XX number of knives, because there's a lot of variables. For example a major repair on a higher end steel... the stone might have to be lapped after that one knife (or even during the repair). Regular sharpening, you might get a ½ dozen knives done before checking. It can also depend on what you're sharpening... it needs to be flat for the back of a single bevel Japanese style knife... vs. putting an edge on a western kitchen knife... you could get away with a little error. And it also can depend on how good you are at using the entire stone.
I would just consider making flattening part of the sharpening process... it doesn't take much to keep it flat, and often you'll end up with a fresher, better cutting (or finishing) stone.
I don't think a set rule can be given, for example flatten after every XX number of knives, because there's a lot of variables. For example a major repair on a higher end steel... the stone might have to be lapped after that one knife (or even during the repair). Regular sharpening, you might get a ½ dozen knives done before checking. It can also depend on what you're sharpening... it needs to be flat for the back of a single bevel Japanese style knife... vs. putting an edge on a western kitchen knife... you could get away with a little error. And it also can depend on how good you are at using the entire stone.
I would just consider making flattening part of the sharpening process... it doesn't take much to keep it flat, and often you'll end up with a fresher, better cutting (or finishing) stone.
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Got it thanks all. It should be part of the process when possible
Wowbagger
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When sharpening woodworking tools especially where the flat backs have to be run on the stone to take off the bur . . . I say flatten often . . . every few blades.
But
I tend to be so into it (and use a jig) that I just use edge trailing strokes for the most part unless I am on a diamond stone. So I'm not digging into the stones as much as some / most.
That said . . .
for knives with curvy edges I don't see flattening as all that critical. With my Shapton glass stones on my Edge Pro and sharpening some of the crazy hard (abrasion resistant) stuff M4, M390 I tend to lap the stones to freshen the grit and get them cutting again or to clean the pores more than trying to get them flat again.
But
I tend to be so into it (and use a jig) that I just use edge trailing strokes for the most part unless I am on a diamond stone. So I'm not digging into the stones as much as some / most.
That said . . .
for knives with curvy edges I don't see flattening as all that critical. With my Shapton glass stones on my Edge Pro and sharpening some of the crazy hard (abrasion resistant) stuff M4, M390 I tend to lap the stones to freshen the grit and get them cutting again or to clean the pores more than trying to get them flat again.