Thread: lapping the Nortons

Before I hone any razor, I lap all the Norton wet stones. The 1k, 4k and even the 8k are lapped with the Norton lapping stone. I make sure they are flat, clean and very wet before honing. So far the results have been very sharp, even and shaveable edges. My only experience in honing has been with the Norton wet stones. You think I am lapping to much? Do I need to lap that much? Every time? I can see when the stones are new and you want to make sure they are flat before honing. Too much lapping. Juan.

Lapping to much is a sticky one. When doing straights you really want as flat a surface as posable, so we lap... However, a straight with little pressuer used durring honeing will not wear a stone enough at one time. But you never know...

Personally I don't like the norton flattening brick as I think it's to rough for the 8k and it wears down it's self. So I would say Yes you are lapping to much if using it.

Do the pencil grid and see if it laps cleanly away with light pressure on the lapping stone. If it goes away evenly stop lapping.

I completely lap the stones after 10-15 razors depending on how many of those razors were really bad or wedges....

I Re-fresh /Clean the stones after about 4 razors

Do the pencil grid and see if it laps cleanly away with light pressure on the lapping stone. If it goes away evenly stop lapping.[/QUOTE]


I do the pencil grit every time and stop when the lines are gone. What should I use with the 8k to lap it.

you can used wet/dry sandpaper (quality: Norton of 3m brand) on a flat surface - as demonstrated in the wiki, you can do it on a flat tile of countertop...use the sandpaper wet of course.

if you don't mind paying a little extra, you can get a DMT course plate from lots of vendors including SRD...the diamond plate is perfectly flat itself and never needs lapping (unlike the Norton flattening stone). I have yet to use one, but using very light pressure, I hear this thing laps quickly like it's no one's business

I use the DMT D8C 325 continuous plate. I lap my Nortons every few razors using the pencil grid. I hone standing at the kitchen sink so it is a quick and easy job. The Norton lapping stone can wear and get imperceptibly out of flat so I prefer the diamond plate.

Originally Posted by Razorburne

you can used wet/dry sandpaper (quality: Norton of 3m brand) on a flat surface - as demonstrated in the wiki, you can do it on a flat tile of countertop...use the sandpaper wet of course.

if you don't mind paying a little extra, you can get a DMT course plate from lots of vendors including SRD...the diamond plate is perfectly flat itself and never needs lapping (unlike the Norton flattening stone). I have yet to use one, but using very light pressure, I hear this thing laps quickly like it's no one's business

What grit sandpaper, 400. 600 or ?

I'm sure you could use lower grit, but I've use 600 in the past and it worked quite well. It took a little bit of time to do the 4k side, but the 8k side was done in only about 3 or 4 mins.

Soon I will be picking up the DMT plate, but until then, sandpaper works just fine.

I lap everything with the Norton lapping stone. When I don't feel rushed I use the 1k hone to lap all the other hones after I use the Norton Lapping stone on them. Then I rub my palm over the hones to be sure there isn't any larger grit on the surface and flush them well under running water. I know wet/dry sandpaper works well but it is messy and I usually don't have the time to 'waste' cleaning up the mess from the wet/dry paper lapping. The rare times I do use the wet/dry I do it on a granite surface plate from Wood Craft for around~ $30. That should be flat enough but it's still more messy than lapping in the sink.

You don't need to lap a Norton every time but you're definitely correct about lapping them at the outset. The lapping gets rid of the glaze. Have you noticed that when you spray water on a new Norton, it just beads up? That stops when you've gotten through the surface glaze. I'm glad to hear you're getting fine edges off the Norton as it's an indicator that your honing technique is dead on.