Thread: 1/4 Nortons

I'm going to be getting a set of hones to be able to take care of my own and possibly do minor restorations. I have 4 shave ready razors at the moment. I got 2 razors for cheap, not to say they are cheap. One I believe is a C.T. Bingham Tally Ho and the other a Robeson Sure edge that I can play with. I believe Whipped Dog has Norton quarter sets and a 12k stone quarter, can get everything for under $100. Would this be OK for my use or would I be better served getting full size stones. If I go full size I may go Naniwa SS or Norton 4/8 with Naniwa 12k to finish, can you use one lapping stone for a mix or do you have to have a seperate lapping stone for the Nortons and SS? Hopes this makes sense and Thanks

Greg

IMHO it is a waste of money. A quarter sized stone is ridiculous. A PITA for maintenance honing but even more so if you want to do restorations.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IMHO it is a waste of money. A quarter sized stone is ridiculous. A PITA for maintenance honing but even more so if you want to do restorations.

I think there's an equation here :
1/4 Norton = 4 x more honing .

I posed the same question in my thread just last week. I decided to go with the Norton 4k/8k and the DMT 325 to lap (from what I understand, it is the only lapping stone I will ever need). Once I learn how to get good shaves off of the 8k, I will buy a Naniwa 12k. Thanks to the great people here in guiding me to make the right decision...

Originally Posted by Chreees

I posed the same question in my thread just last week. I decided to go with the Norton 4k/8k and the DMT 325 to lap (from what I understand, it is the only lapping stone I will ever need). Once I learn how to get good shaves off of the 8k, I will buy a Naniwa 12k. Thanks to the great people here in guiding me to make the right decision...

That's where I am. My only worry is all the time I spent lapping and hoping I didn't ruin my DMT. I'm hoping to get another or maybe I can just compare my plate with one that is at one of the local stores. I am lusting after the 12k but SWMBO is starting to notice the razors piling up.

OP- IMO go for the full sized stones, you won't regret it.

Originally Posted by Roso

That's where I am. My only worry is all the time I spent lapping and hoping I didn't ruin my DMT. I'm hoping to get another or maybe I can just compare my plate with one that is at one of the local stores. I am lusting after the 12k but SWMBO is starting to notice the razors piling up.

OP- IMO go for the full sized stones, you won't regret it.

It's difficult to wear out your DMT on the hones that you are discussing. I have a DMT that has been used on 1000 grit Carborundums, barber hones, a hard Arkansas, no problem. I was actually worried that I wore it out & bought another. The old one cuts as good as the new one.

Straight razor blades are only about three inches long. The quarter-sized Norton stones would be plenty big enough in my opinion. I find that larger stones like the full-sized Nortons are great for things like ten-inch kitchen knives and plane blades but not particularly advantageous for smaller blades.

Originally Posted by JeffR

Straight razor blades are only about three inches long. The quarter-sized Norton stones would be plenty big enough in my opinion. I find that larger stones like the full-sized Nortons are great for things like ten-inch kitchen knives and plane blades but not particularly advantageous for smaller blades.

That is a good point! However I have taught a few persons to hone and getting them to keep the full cutting edge of the razor on a full sized hone takes constant reminding. It takes a while to feel comfortable making strokes on a hone. Having to think of a turnaround flip sooner can be confusing. I find some students take about an hour just to remember to keep the spine on the stone while flipping the razor for the next pass. Some of my students, have had enough trouble flipping at the end of a standard length hone.
For myself, renewing old blades I like a long hone as I make fewer laps on it than I would on a shorter hone. If I was only occasionally touching up razors of my rotation,your point would be useful. And...yes I do have shorter hones for that. Long hones though for a resetting of the bevel and edge.
~Richard

Originally Posted by JeffR

Straight razor blades are only about three inches long. The quarter-sized Norton stones would be plenty big enough in my opinion. I find that larger stones like the full-sized Nortons are great for things like ten-inch kitchen knives and plane blades but not particularly advantageous for smaller blades.

Let's look at what the Escher company called the Barber's Delight and Barber's Choice. 6" long x 2" wide. The usual size coticule furnished to barbers, by the pro suppliers was 5"x2 1/2". These were made for the express purpose of honing razors. Had a 2"x3" size been appropriate I'm sure that would have been the default size. An 8"x3" hone is even better, IME, for speeding up the process. YMMV.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

It's difficult to wear out your DMT on the hones that you are discussing. I have a DMT that has been used on 1000 grit Carborundums, barber hones, a hard Arkansas, no problem. I was actually worried that I wore it out & bought another. The old one cuts as good as the new one.

Thanks! It was remarked in one of the other threads that it's possible if you're lapping for more than a few minutes. I probably went 20 minutes or so. Once a little doubt sets in I tend to want to verify, just haven't gotten around to it. Your comment helps ease doubt.