Thread: Norton waterstones

I've got a 4k/8k norton waterstone. Is the norton SiC flattening stone sufficient for lapping? If not what are your suggestions?

Thanks.

SRP founder Lynn Abrams lapped his Nortons with the Norton lapping plate for many moons before he changed over to a DMT D8C diamond plate. I know at least one pro honer who prefers the Norton lapping plate. Myself I like the D8C. If your plate is flat it will do the job. If not you would be better off with 325 grit sandpaper on a flat surface, or get a D8C. Here is a tutorial from the archives on doing it one way and the other.

One nice thing about the Norton lapping stone, or any other like it, is that you can let the grit from the hone you are lapping build up on it, and you can lap really fast that way. But the down side is that the Norton lapping stone, or others like it, need to be lapped now and then as well.

I prefer my DMT - I can't let grit build up on it (that can rip the diamonds out of the nickel binder), but it's always flat so it needs no maintenance.