Thread: Seriously confused on the Norton 4k/8k

Hey guys,

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hone-...aterstone.html

This feels like beating a dead horse, but I am totally confused after reading through the review on the 4k/8k . I was seconds away from just ordering a stone, but am wondering about other options now.

I've been shaving for a couple months, have 2 razors that I've tried to get Shave-Ready using a King 1200 stone and stropping on newspaper. Is the Norton a good option if I'm also sharpening 10-inch kitchen knives?
--Barber hones and coticules seem too small to handle the serious steel.

Over the last 15 0r so years that I have maintained straights I have used eschers, king stones, coticules, barber hones etc, etc, etc. I have only in the last 2 months started using a Norton 4/8k and I wish I had found that stone first. Although the other stones are great and do the job the Norton 4/8K is one of the easiest and most consistent hones I have ever used and perfect for a newbie to learn on

I agree you carn't go wrong with the norton and later i added bbw/coti they are just perfect for final polish and maintain the edge for ever and some ch.5 oxide which is very cheap and gives extra glide and keeness/smoothness. Get the norton. yopu have 1200 that is for real bevel setting only.

In the grit ranges of 4000 and 8000 nothing IMHO is a better value and as mentioned above consistant. So while I have indeed added above and below that range with other stone, Nortons will always have their place in my system.
Mike

The Norton 4K/8K is great.

The Wiki has some good articles about using it:
What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I wonder why nobody wondered about him trying to get a razor
shave ready with only a king 1.2k and newspaper...

Read through the wiki, you will find everything what you need:
what hones do I need especially

You will finde there that the 4k/8k (you can still use your 1k for bevelsetting)
will be plenty enough to get your razor in good condition.
Some 0.5 chromium oxide or diamond paste will emprove things even more
Happy honing

Originally Posted by JMS

Over the last 15 0r so years that I have maintained straights I have used eschers, king stones, coticules, barber hones etc, etc, etc. I have only in the last 2 months started using a Norton 4/8k and I wish I had found that stone first.

See, so much good stuff outside of the 'conversation'.... It's not like this hone has been kept a deep secret either - it has been the default recommendation for as long as I've been on this forum...

Originally Posted by gugi

See, so much good stuff outside of the 'conversation'.... It's not like this hone has been kept a deep secret either - it has been the default recommendation for as long as I've been on this forum...

Yes, but if you already know how to put an edge on a straight without the 4/8 K you would be hard pressed to spend the money for one of these if you don't need to! Now, if you had brought your 4/8k to my house when I first joined the forums I might have bought one then, but you didn't did you? A fat lot of help you were!

That's what you get for showing me how to use mine...

Another great example of the importance of "peer review" when evaluating anything. The reviewer had no idea what he was talking about. My favorite part is using the Nagura slurry on the Norton.

This would be like buying a hybrid car and saying it doesn't run well on diesel.

I believe the Wiki has better information.

I would atleast feel compelled to read reviews from people who know how to hone. Sometimes men have to stand up and say "you know what? If I can't hone it might not be the stone that is at fault"