Thread: Norton 8000 feature or flaw?

Finally got a response from Norton:

"Yes, it does seem irregular to have such pitting. If you would like to exchange the stone please take it back to the retailer where you bought it. They can exchange it and then return it to us for credit."

hmm. They seem to make it a retail exchange issue between me and the vendor, rather than a manufacturer's exchange. Odd, since they acknowledge that it seems to be an irregular stone.

Originally Posted by jlarryc

Finally got a response from Norton:

"Yes, it does seem irregular to have such pitting. If you would like to exchange the stone please take it back to the retailer where you bought it. They can exchange it and then return it to us for credit."

hmm. They seem to make it a retail exchange issue between me and the vendor, rather than a manufacturer's exchange. Odd, since they acknowledge that it seems to be an irregular stone.

As long as you get a new stone that is the important thing. It might be more convenient for you ..... if you bought it locally. Now I guess it depends on the vendor. Please let us know if the new stone has any issues.

Here's the thing: If the holes were just holes, then it would not be an issue as lots of synthetic hones have lots of holes. However, your holes are causing a clicking, so that means that your edge is getting hung up on the edges of the holes. That is absolutely positively not acceptable in my book. If you cannot lap out the trouble in a reasonable period of lapping, then you should definitely get a different hone.

It might make you feel better to know you are not Robinson Crusoe with this. There have been similar issues in the past with some of the Norton stones - relative to how many must be sold I do not think it is a huge issue, but holes in the occasional Norton seem to happen sometimes. For example:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...continues.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ter-stone.html

The solution in almost all the cases I can remember was a replacement stone from the good people at Norton.

Personally, I really love my Norton - it is my honing workhorse. I hope you can sort out this issue and start enjoying your new stone.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It might make you feel better to know you are not Robinson Crusoe with this. There have been similar issues in the past with some of the Norton stones - relative to how many must be sold I do not think it is a huge issue, but holes in the occasional Norton seem to happen sometimes. For example:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...continues.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ter-stone.html

The solution in almost all the cases I can remember was a replacement stone from the good people at Norton.

Personally, I really love my Norton - it is my honing workhorse. I hope you can sort out this issue and start enjoying your new stone.

James.

+1.

I had some issues with my norton 8K initially. But with a good lapping I was able to get past the surface that made the clicking sound and it has been smooth ever since then. The norton 1K- 4K -8K is generally the workhorse lineup for my honing progression.

I also had some issues with one of my nortons, I think it was a 4K. I had lapped it with the Norton lapping stone and I now believe it had imbedded some particles into the 4k.

I could feel clicking on the blade and noticed micro chipping under magnification. I scrubbed the blade with a 3M nylon pad until it felt smooth, sharpened a couple of kitchen knives on them feeling for clicks, then re-lapped with sand paper, then diamond plate.

I’ve never had a problem with them since. I just touch them up with a diamond plate occasionally.

I agree the 4&8k are the workhorses for me as well. Maybe you do need to get past the top 1/8 inch on some of them.


Marty

Originally Posted by jlarryc

Finally got a response from Norton:

"Yes, it does seem irregular to have such pitting. If you would like to exchange the stone please take it back to the retailer where you bought it. They can exchange it and then return it to us for credit."

hmm. They seem to make it a retail exchange issue between me and the vendor, rather than a manufacturer's exchange. Odd, since they acknowledge that it seems to be an irregular stone.

That is actually quite normal for manufacturers. With larger companies, there is quite a bit of logistics and paperwork involved with returning items or receiving returned items.

The retailer is the one it was sent to originally, and they have all the information in place to deal with items returned from that retailer. If they have to deal with you that can get cumbersome. Additionally, shipping to private addresses etc will complicate things further because they can't just ship something usps low cost and hope it arrives.

I know some manufacturers do so, but generally, returns have to be handled through the retailer to keep things simple for both parties involved.

for example, if you bring it back to the retailer, it is their problem to get it to the manufacturer. If you had to send it, it would cost money. And what if it got lost? You'd have to insure it and use registered shipping (after all, how would they know you even shipped it if they receive nothing) which would be even more costly.

Trust me on this: if you can drop it off with the retailer, and pick up a new one free of charge, that is by far the easiest and cheapest solution for all parties involved.