Thread: Finish hone after flattening?

I will get a DMT plate next, I just used the flattening stone because that's what I had currently. I did have the stones soaking before I lapped them. I'll try smoothing the surface with wet/dry sandpaper on a truly flat surface.

I use the DMT 325 most of the time but on occasion i use 220 & 400 wet dry on the granite counter. this usually keeps the hones very flat.

Yea, don’t use the Norton lapping plate, makes a mess and can imbed grit in a stone. I never use mine.

Clean the stones with a scotch brite pad and soapy water then lap on 325 Wet & Dry. Do bevel the corners as said. A diamond plate is so much easier.

And Post some photos of the razor and stones.

The 4k/8k comes with a rough surface that needs to be lapped away. The same can be said for the flattening stone. When the flattening stone is new, it's Godawfully rough. Once it's broken in, it isn't so bad, but I still chase the flattening stone with wet/dry sand paper to get the scratches out of the hones.

Here's a video on how to properly prep the hones for use with a straight razor - note the part where he mentions how much you need to lap off your 4k/8k to get to good, smooth, usable surface. I want to say it takes about 1/8" or so on the 4k. The 8k isn't quite so bad.

Pretty sure that is an old video, not sure that applies anymore. There was an issue with Norton’s’, years ago…

May be old, but it still applied to the Norton I picked up last year. YMMV.

I'm having a similar issue with a JNAT (Shoubudani Asagi) that I just flattened - it feels smooth, but has a matte finish versus the semi-glossy surface it started with. It's not just a cosmetic issue, it has definitely introduced microchipping on an edge that was smooth before I started. I'm guessing that I just need to spend more time with some finer grit WD paper to bring the polish up - the highest grit I have on hand is 1500. Any other suggestions?

A close friend and I were honing at his home and I commented on the smooth finish on his 12k SS and Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. He told me that after lapping with his Dmt Dia-flat, he finally found a use for his la grise coticule by using it with a watery slurry to polish his finishers.

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

I'm having a similar issue with a JNAT (Shoubudani Asagi) that I just flattened - it feels smooth, but has a matte finish versus the semi-glossy surface it started with. It's not just a cosmetic issue, it has definitely introduced microchipping on an edge that was smooth before I started. I'm guessing that I just need to spend more time with some finer grit WD paper to bring the polish up - the highest grit I have on hand is 1500. Any other suggestions?

I would suggest you PM Jnats. He'll be able to guide you in how to prep your stone. As his name implies, they're his niche.

Edit: You're right around the corner from me! That's awesome. Howdy neighbor! lol

The gritty layer in the Norton 4ks did not seem to be an issue with the older Nortons but seemed to become a problem with them when they switched manufacturing to Mexico. I got my first 4k in 2007 and it was made in US. I got my second one in 2008 or 2009 and it was made in Mexico, had the gritty layer, and had much larger and more numerous surface pores. Same issues for the third one that I got around 2011 or 2012.