Thread: Norton 4000/8000..What if it cost more?

I really don't mean to poo poo any discussion. I am totally in favor of trying every stone out there and probably have. I have also experimented with virtually every method out there. As I said in another thread, I don't even decide if I like something without trying it on a hundred razors first, but all of this still doesn't mean that we will all end up using the same method or the same media. We tend to migrate to what is successful for us. What is important is that we all learn the best we can and teach more people who can hone their own razors. Personally, I have found the Norton and the Pyramid to be the easiest and most consistent for teaching new people. That doesn't make all the other methods or stones out there of less value, whether they can be taught to pre-schoolers or not. The Norton is not a sacred cow, but when you go back 10 years ago there wasn't much available that anyone knew about and it was incredibly hard to find someone who would teach you anything about straight razors. I'd say we've come a long way and encourage all of you to keep learning and sharing.

Thanks,

Lynn

Well, over this side of the world, and based on the current USD/AUD exchange rate and when I bought my Norton combo stone, you could say my Norton *did* cost almost double what it does in the US. Never regretted it for a minute, best money I ever spent.

(And at the time I got mine, there was very little available over here. The importers now have Shapton glass stones - the 16k goes for approx. AUD160 + postage, but to me it's a niche stone.)

"Brand new Norton?- $120. Bottled Evian? - $5. The ability to be totally self-reliant and sharpen my own razors? - Priceless!"

James.

I like my norton, but it was also a price decision.
With the 4/8 you get a lot of versatility and quality for a reasonable amount of money.
My coticules fall in the same category. Granted, the 8x3" was not cheap, but still afforable as far as large natural finishing stones go.

The escher might be even better, but I am not going to buy one to find out.
Over here I can buy Jap ceramic stones up to 10K for a reasonable price, and if Norton would double in price, I'd give them a try.

For me it is a matter of good results for a good price, not about the best result at any price.

Price matters, but only to a point. You could purchase
a Spyderco Fine and UF for less than the price of a 4/
8k, and forget about soaking and lapping while you're
at it. However, there are not that many folks out there
who have had the necessary time to evaluate them
and come up with equivalent methodologies such as
the Pyramid. This is still relatively undiscovered country.

I'm going to be experimenting with a DMTEE/Coticule/Escher
combination sometime in the next several weeks, which is
decidedly not a budget approach to honing (but perhaps
still less than the Shapton suite + DGLP)

- Scott

For me the price points are not something I think about too awfully much. With a bit of savings, we can all purchase which or whatever hone.

Some of this is simply personal preference; like natural vs. artificial stones...or fast cutters vs. slow. "Comfortable" edges that are produced vs. those that need some smoothing.

It is hard not to be impatient....so many possibilities. But it is fun!

I've been hearing good things about the DMT8EE, things like "cuts as fast as the norton 4k, but as fine as the 8k". I've got one on the way because these guys: http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/html_p/T!D8.htm have them for less than I got my 4k/8k and since it's diamond it should outlast the norton (not that I'll live to see that day, but it's the principle).

I'll have to experiment and report back, but if the rumors are true, the DMT already wins for convenience because there's no flipping the stone, no soaking, no lapping, no possible chipping/breaking. And if the performance is even close to what it should be, it's a done deal.

But I'll keep both either way.

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

I've been hearing good things about the DMT8EE, things like "cuts as fast as the norton 4k, but as fine as the 8k".

I have only heard that from one guy from B&B, so maybe you should take that with a grain of salt until you find out for yourself. DMT makes great products, so it will likely be a very nice stone. Please let us know about your experiences with it and how it compares to the Norton.