Thread: Need to prep Norton stone before use

In a video Lynn Abrams mention that new Norton (220/1000 or 4000/8000) need to be prepped
with a flattening stone before first because the surface is coarser than expected. Can anyone confirm.
I bought a 4000/8000 several years ago for my razor and added a 220/1000 for Japanese knives.
One ne razor (maintained with strop and paste for years) need honing now. How long should I use
the flattening stone.

Sylvain

Search for lapping a stone. Use a dmt or diamond plate of some kind as i hear the flattening stones are not that flat to start with.

If you need to remove a lot of the surface, float glass & loose Silicon Carbide powder is the fastest way.
You can use wet n dri paper to replace the SiC but it never returns quite the same flatness as the paper introduces a bit of play.
A diamond plate is perfect afterwards especially to remove any embedded particles from the Norton. They are a soft stone & it easily happens, especially if you are a bit heavy with the pressure.

The main issue is not usually the surface roughness as making sure it is flat. Very often stones are not flat even from the factory or the quarry in the case of natural stones. Although from my experience with Norton stones the flattening stone can make them a little rough. As mentioned, the best way is loose sic powder on a lapping plate. In absence of a lapping plate you can use a cookie sheet on a known flat surface like a granite topped table or countertop.

Okay lets back up a bit and explain why these recomendations came about

The Norton 4/8 gained its rep early on when they were made in the US

Sometime around 2009ish the production of the 4k moved to Mexico and the hone was quite rough and needed quite a bit of "Work" to get it smoothed up

Sometime around 2012ish the production of the 4k was moved to Italy and the hone was much better again, still not quite as good as the early US made, but nowhere near as bad with the Mexico made 4k

The 8k never changed to my knowledge

What does the box say or the hone ???
The voids in the Mexico made 4k are nearly double that of the American and Italian


That my friend is the rest of the story

ps: During that time period you can find reference to all this on the forum

Thanks for the detailed explanation Did not expected this much.

My 4K/8K is made in Italy(4K) and USA (8K) Good.
My 220/1K is made in Mexico. So much work to do.

Thanks again.
Sylvain

Originally Posted by Fauvel

Thanks for the detailed explanation Did not expected this much.

My 4K/8K is made in Italy(4K) and USA (8K) Good.
My 220/1K is made in Mexico. So much work to do.

And the really great thing about flattening Nortons is that you get to do it again and again and again and again...

You can help yourself greatly by getting some SIC powder in various grits. That will make life much easier and, IMO does a better job than the flattening stone of leaving a smoother and more consistent surface. The flattening stone is good for just.that, flattening. For dressing the surface SIC is hard to beat

You can pick it up cheap on the bay or Amazon. You just have to shop it a little. Depending on where.you are, if there is a good hobby shop you might find it locally. It is used with rock tumbler sets so if they carry those they likely have the powder.

My first stones were Norton's and I loved em, learned to hone on em.

I did get kind of jarred off with the constant soaking so I treated myself to some Naniwa Superstones.

I still love my Nortons, but Oh those Nannies are so nice to use and just splash and go.

Originally Posted by STF

My first stones were Norton's and I loved em, learned to hone on em.

I did get kind of jarred off with the constant soaking so I treated myself to some Naniwa Superstones.

I still love my Nortons, but Oh those Nannies are so nice to use and just splash and go.

SO, almost one year of procrastination, both my razors (both Dovo En vogue 105) were blunt.
I took out my Norton 4000/8000 and Naniwa 12000 and Norton lapping stone (will buy a
lapping plate and powder). Did not prep the stone to see. Sharpened on 8000 then12000
stropped and tried to shave. It was better but not optimal.

Then used the lapping stone on both sharpening stone. The process was long and tedious.

Then I resharpened one razor, 8000 and 12000 again but for longer (twice as long). The shave
was better but I suspect it can be better. Then using the lapping stone again it was faster.

SO I conclude that I should have used the lapping stone to prep both the 8000 and 12000
(and 4000 I guess too).

Question 1 : am I right, the Naniwa 12000 also need to be prepped before first use.

Question 2 : on both stones the I have metal deposit mostly on the sides of the stones
See the 12000 Naniwa photo. Is not the stone that is not straight or the
razor?

Next week-end I pull out the stones again a resharpen (I want to try both razor this week,
one is sharpened once, the second has been resharpened a second time).

And second project, replace the scales of 2 razors I have not used for years. And buying
a decent lapping plate and powder.