Hello. I’m new here and about two months into straight razor shaving. It was my new year’s resolution, and I decided to do a 100% plunge. I am now slowly learning the honing process. I purchased a new Norton 4000/8000. I’ve lapped and beveled it.

I’ve found that on the yellow, 8000 side there are approximately a dozen or more small holes scattered about. They are each about the size of a pinhole, but do vary slightly in size and shape. To the naked eye they might almost be mere spots/discolorations, but under a 16x loop they are holes, and with a 60x microscope they seem like rough-edged, gaping craters. I am assuming they are the remains of “air bubbles” during the manufacturing process. When honing, these seem to cause a clicking feeling as the blade passes over some of them. I’ve tried lapping through them (for as long as my patience would bear), but I either don’t remove enough material to eliminate them or as I go deeper I reveal new ones.

I’ve sent an e-mail inquiry to Norton Stones customer service but have not heard anything back. So, I am wondering:
1) are these holes a normal part of the manufacturing process, or is this stone flawed?
2) I would imagine the clicking sensation as the blade passes over may do more damage than good?
3) If I keep lapping and lapping patiently, will I eventually get “underneath” all of these? or is that futile?


Please note I see no such flaws on the white, 4000 side.

Thanks for your input or advice!

Jonathan