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