I decided that it was easiest on everyone to use a flattening stone on my 4/8 Norton. Everything soaks in MY dishbucket. All sharpening on a newspaper to soak up spills. When I'm done, out the door with the water and grit. The screaming has now subsided! No more dirty sink or grit all over. The reason for the stone and not the sandpaper on glass.
Am I making (sharpening) life more difficult by not lapping my Norton through the various grades of sandpaper and using just the flattening stone? Also, I have always flattened after a session on the Nortons be it 10 minutes or a half an hour. Seems that could reduce the stone quicker. Does anyone flatten during a sharpening session?