Looking for different/ new stones for Edge Pro Apex

[Belker]

WHOA

WOW!

 

[ajbuckelew]

I find that same thing happening to me, albeit a lot less, when I use a little too much pressure with the stock 320 EP stone.

 

[singularity35]

Well, I just used the 600 grit Moldmaster stone, and I am surprised at the amount of junk coming off the stone! It isn't metal, so it must be the binding resin. There is actually a pile of it and it looks like clay. I'll get pics later. I have to say, that this is disconcerting, as I may have to get a different stone for the 30micron stage (about where the 320 grit EP stone is). I did not see this kind of stuff when using the 120 and 240 grit MM stones.

Use the 600 grit moldmaster stone dry.

 

[loonybin]

Use the 600 grit moldmaster stone dry.

I did a couple swipes with it dry at first (because I forgot to wet it), and I could see the dust flying off of it. I'll try it again, but it seems that it's going to wear down really fast. There was nothing like this with the 120 and 240 stones, which is why I was surprised to see it with the 600.

 

[arjay]

Well, I just used the 600 grit Moldmaster stone, and I am surprised at the amount of junk coming off the stone! It isn't metal, so it must be the binding resin. There is actually a pile of it and it looks like clay. I'll get pics later. I have to say, that this is disconcerting, as I may have to get a different stone for the 30micron stage (about where the 320 grit EP stone is). I did not see this kind of stuff when using the 120 and 240 grit MM stones.

That's a lot of swarf! MM 600 stones really sheds a lot since its soft, if you want to stick with it try using it just damp with edge trailing strokes a bit like using a strop with very little pressure. I find that if you use push/pull strokes, the edge will cut into the stone thus creating a lot of swarf. I moved to using the flex 600 since it sheds less and gives a better polish. The more it loads up the better polish I get.

 

[singularity35]

I did a couple swipes with it dry at first (because I forgot to wet it), and I could see the dust flying off of it. I'll try it again, but it seems that it's going to wear down really fast. There was nothing like this with the 120 and 240 stones, which is why I was surprised to see it with the 600.

It works really well in doing a mirror(assuming you followed proper progression) especially when it's already glazed. It is softer than the the lower grits but when used dry with not a lot of pressure, you can make it work. You can always get the flex or if that's still not up to snuff, the choseras.

 

[loonybin]

That's a lot of swarf! MM 600 stones really sheds a lot since its soft, if you want to stick with it try using it just damp with edge trailing strokes a bit like using a strop with very little pressure. I find that if you use push/pull strokes, the edge will cut into the stone thus creating a lot of swarf. I moved to using the flex 600 since it sheds less and gives a better polish. The more it loads up the better polish I get.

It works really well in doing a mirror(assuming you followed proper progression) especially when it's already glazed. It is softer than the the lower grits but when used dry with not a lot of pressure, you can make it work. You can always get the flex or if that's still not up to snuff, the choseras.

I will probably order a couple Flex stones as well as the EP 400 and see which one works better. I'll try the MM 600 dry tonight and see how it goes. Singularity, I would love to have the Choseras, but that will have to wait until next tax season (if I don't just get a full set of the diamond films at CKTG, that is...).

 

[loonybin]

Well, I never got around to ordering the Flex stones to try. I needed the 600 and 1000 EP stones, so I just ordered a 400 as well. I replaced the MM 600 (30 micron) with the 30micron diamond plate and noticed a world of difference.

The MM 400 stone that I have does not have the swarf problem that the MM 600 does. It seems to work just fine. There is some noticeable swarf, but very little. There is none with the MM 120 and 240.

My progression now:
MM 120 - guessing around 125µm (works the same as the 240 -- builds up too quickly??)
MM 240 - 60µm (seems to cut as well or better than the 120)
MM 400 - 40µm
CKTG 30µm diamond plate
EP 400 - 17µm
EP 600 - 10µm
EP 1000 - 4.5µm
strop on cardboard back of a notepad

Are there any gaps here that look like too big of a jump between micron sizes? For some reason I was thinking that the next finer stage needs to be half the micron size of the previous stage. More of a change than that, and it wouldn't necessarily get the previous scratches out without a lot of extra work. Is that right?

 

[Glytch5]

Just to throw in my 2 cents, one thing to consider when buying some "upgrade" stones for the Edgepro is if your going the route of, high quality Japanese water stones such as, Chosera, Shaption pro, there is a couple disadvantages over the stock stones. Regular Japanese stones like Shaptons create a buuunch of slurry, if you notice Jdavis on youtube, when you look at his edge pro the whole machine is caked in dried up slurry. Those stones drink a lot, and piss a lot of slop all over the place.
The EdgePro stones slurry up too, but it is pretty minimal in my opinion.
I think the EP stones are just fine, in fact I would love full sized set of EP water stones of the same grits. They are really affordable too. I am soon in need to replace my 400-1k ep stones because they are running thin.
THAT is one nice thing about buying upgrade stones, they are usually cut very thick, and are in most cases slower wearing. They probably overall polish a bit nicer too. Their just too messy for me.
Don't let this swat away your excitement though, I would LOVE to try some Chosera stones believe me, but their just not worth it for my purposes.
Another plus of high end Jap stones is, they don't clog up as much as the EP stones. my 600 and 1k Ep stones clog so freaking fast it can get irritating on bigger blades!