Thread: Questions about a new Norton 4k/8k

I have a pair of Norton single grit 4k/8k, and I've had the Mexican made combo in the past. Sold it when I got the single grits. They work well for me. The only thing I would add to your plans is a DMT D8C 325 diamond plate for lapping the waterstones. You can do it with sandpaper, but that gets expensive after awhile, and the plate works really well, even after 7 years of use. I use mine on kitchen knives (sharpening) as well.

I have been able to get really nice edges off the Norton 8K. Once you have that dialed in you can follow it with any finisher. I am not a fan of my synthetic finisher and stick with naturals. If you choose to develop a relationship with a natural hone, it can be a long deep rabbit hole, but a lot of fun and smooth edges to be HAD. I have no idea where my Norton was made. I have also had my DMT plates for a long time and they do get plugged up and need to be cleaned periodically but last and last.

Just to further confuse the issue ...... years ago I heard that the 8k Norton is a natural. Supposedly was 'made' in Italy back then. I know for a fact that you do not need to soak the 8k single grit. It comes with brief instructions that say that. Of course you do need to soak the 4k, so if it is bonded to the 8 they both get soaked.

Back when they transitioned to Mexico I was told that it is still the same 8k, just finished off and packaged in Mexico. I don't know about the 4k. The 8k I've got, and the combo I sold, are a different color than the one seen in Lynn's DVD from years ago. I'm pretty sure that was the Italian 8k.

I'm not sure about any of this, except that you don't have to soak the 8k if you have the single grit. So if anyone has differing info please don't hesitate to post it. I was wrong once before.

I started with the Norton 4/8 about 20 months ago not an issue,
After spending hours repairing and setting bevels on the 4k I got a Nani 1k to speed this up if you are setting on the 2k film the 4k will be able to finishe the bevel set off & start the polishing.
then went the Nani 12k to Finnish and touch up
I have only used 360 & 400 grit wet & dry on glass then a marble tile for lapping etc
I only soak my Norton while I bevel set or for about 1/2 an hour before use it if doing multiple razors.
The 4k will most likely need a fair bit of lapping using the pencil grid method

Yep. Watching Glen and Lynn's videos on lapping right now. And Lynns 4k/8k circle method video as well.
Thanks for all the replies so far.

The norton 4/8 is what is the first stone I got, I would recommend it.
norton use to have quality issues with this stone which required you to lap an 1/8 inch off the 4k side stone just so it was smooth. the 4k side used to be made in mexico. they have since switch countries of manufacturing and solved the problem. (by the way my 4k side of mine is manufactured in italy and the 8k is from USA (stated on the box) and it did not need excess lapping.)

also I do not have a 1k or 2k bevel setter, but instead use my broken in DMT D8C ,which is 325 grit, to set bevels. i go right from that to the 4k and it works great. the dmt is also only around $50 and is awesome to lap stones with. if you are going to stick with straights then lapping on sandpaper will waste money in the long run.

You can’t go wrong with the 4/8K Norton, just make sure to lap it well. 2-3 cycles of gridding and lapping.

You can lap flat with Wet & Dry, but for maintenance is a pain in the butt. A diamond plate is so much easier. You will lap it each time you use it and sometime refresh while you are using, especially if you will be bevel setting with the 4k.

Chef Knives To Go has a new, dual grit, 400/1k Diamond plate for $40. You can lap on the 400 and bevel set on the 1k, just do not use a lot of pressure to bring the bevels together.

I just ordered one, but have used their $30,140 grit plate for years. I can’t count the number of stones it has lapped.