Thread: Gritty Norton 4k stone

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

For me it was the sound it made, and the odd scratch pattern on the stone. I can actually see the individual grains after running the blade a couple of times across.

"Scratch pattern ON the stone". That sounds weird to me. Do you mean the scratch pattern left on the blade or is it as you wrote. If the hone is scratched up. Take a pic the best you can and post it, and what are you using to lap it with. Unless I am mistaken in my thoughts, then nevermind

Originally Posted by rlmnshvstr8

"Scratch pattern ON the stone". That sounds weird to me. Do you mean the scratch pattern left on the blade or is it as you wrote. If the hone is scratched up. Take a pic the best you can and post it, and what are you using to lap it with. Unless I am mistaken in my thoughts, then nevermind

I misunderstood. Scratch-patterns are usually referred to as in the bevel. Not the hone. Scratch-patterns upon a clean, freshly-lapped stone can (obviously) mean only one thing.
The razor applied to it has scratched it. No fault of the hone, I would think.

I just want to take some variables out of my thought process. Could you detail your honing process. Especially do you use slurry or not. What results in your blade are you seeing that is the problem? What's happening that is making you wonder about the hone?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I misunderstood. Scratch-patterns are usually referred to as in the bevel. Not the hone. Scratch-patterns upon a clean, freshly-lapped stone can (obviously) mean only one thing.
The razor applied to it has scratched it. No fault of the hone, I would think.

Or what if what is being used to lap and flatten is scratching the stone? That's what I am wanting to see if that is happening or not?

If your lapping it with paper it's the grit from the paper. Same may be true with a Norton lapping stone. I have a 4/8 and shaved off it for a year. Used the Norton lapping stone on it more than half that time until I got a DMT8f and now use a DMT8ef. I love my Nortons and wouldn't trade them for anything else. If you have used other stones you may want to just go through your progression and see how it all ends up. They may feel harsh but they do the job quick for me. 1k 4k 8k then to nani because Norton's don't go any higher.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Why is it an issue? Sound? Sensation? Performance? I would like to hear. My old 4k is much more audible than my 1k Naniwa.
Still, a 4k through lot's of razors. JMO.

So I don't have any other 4k - and although very pleased with my results I'm still a honing FNG. And I remember the cautions about the 4K surface on the Norton 4/8 when I bought mine. I expected to see this, a porous surface that felt "open" even when lapped.
I never tried to hone on it before lapping it down at least 1/8". As in I chamfered it then lapped it to square and re-chamfered. Pencil grid as I proceeded.

And then it just pops out, you rinse the surface and it feels smooth to the touch and it looks flat/smooth at an angle.

It did not take long, but that might have been because I knew starting out that I was going to take at least 1/8" and not just a pencil marks worth...

Some of these sound like they may be more of a problem, as in send them back...

I don't want to take the time to soak and recreate the image I was trying to write about Here is my best description: I start with a king 1k, and then move to the Norton 4k. Since the stone is white, you can easily see the metal on the hone as you are honing. What I see is not an even "swipe" on the stone, instead I see little black dots scattered on the surface of the stone. To me is is telling me either the stone is gritty (as my finger tells me) or the surface is uneven from my lapping.
For lapping the stone, I had been using wet/dry paper on a stone finishing plate. (certified flat) I start with 220 grit and finish with 600 grit before attempting to hone. For the sake of eliminating my lapping method as the source of error I lapped it the last time with a DMT diamond plate up to 1200 grit. The stone felt and cut the same way after each different lapping method.

My 4/8 Norton lives in the water. (No other hone could I recommend that for, BTW) The uneven 'swipe' on the stone is created by you. JMHO. If you are attempting to 'straight hone' a razor with a slight smile, you are only messing up the geometry of the razor and wasting hone. Technique could be the answer. Pictures should be forthcoming to enable positive solutions.
Razor, bevel, spine, hone. Explain exactly what you are doing.