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I have had it for years, and it is cracked, and has chips. Its time to replace it. Should I just go with another one of the same.. or is there a better option... there are still two razors I can just NEVER get sharp with the Norton.. namely my beautiful Filharmonica.
I have no advice on what to get, merely a question. I guess if you liked the way the Nortons worked, get another.
How long have you had this Norton? Is it still usable by any means? I am looking to get some and am wondering the lifespan, I suppose.
Only reason my Norton 4/8 is on the side bar from razors is that I really don't like the 4k side and after the bevel is set I go to my Naturals. I replaced that with a 3k Shapton Glass Stone and like it for that grit range just fine, even with it's dislike of carbon steel...
There are just to many options out there to make a choice for someone else. All stones have their give and takes. Norton's 4/8 is great in the price range and works great for razors. Other stones (SGS) may cut wicked fast and are very hard but one slip and your edge is ground off, very unforgiving. Others have a soft feel and seem more forgiving but wear away fast.
Hope others can point you in a good direction, or if you know others in your area maybe you can try some stones out and see how they feel for you.
Good Luck, Me I just keep buying more stones :p
if it was me i would try 5k 8k naniwa. they have agreat feel to them plus there is no soaking. if you want natural stone it has to be a coticule this could easily replace your 4k/8k. the choice is yours.
If the chips/cracks are not deep, you may be able to lap them out.
If you are going to replace, I agree the first question is "did you like your Norton?" If yes, get another one. If no, my preference at this time is Naniwa 5k and 8k.
If you don't want to get more nortons get the naniwa super stones, I love them.
I think I saw Lynn say he would buy shapton glass hones to replace his norton once. Maybe try those out? I'm not a fan of natural hones being used outside of finishing razors.
I am on a natural kick right now, so my vote is Coticule BBW combo. I do not have any naniwa hones (yet). But from the way everyone raves on them they can't be a bad way to go.
I'm with sbrouwers here. With coticule and Belgian blue you can do the same and more than with Norton 4/8.
Another norton would be the easiest - just lap and do as you know.
Unless you're bored and want to try something else in which case there are few options - shapton and naniwa are probably the somewhat more expensive and somewhat different/better?.
The reason I offered synthetic is natural hones vary greatly, even just coticules. My coticule may be fast, yours slow, that adds a lot of variables. It took me a few months so find out my coticule is fast in slurry but slow in water, making it hard to bring the razor into good keennes levels. You would have to learn your coticule for quite some time to get nice results while a naniwa or shapton would give you results consistantly out of the shipping box. At least you would know if you like the edge from these stones faster than figuring out a coticule and THEN finding out you don't like the edge.
Try the Naniwa stones. 1k 5k 8k 12k
Works for me............:beer2:
I've not used the Nortons, but either the Shapton 4/8k stones or the Naniwa 3k or 5k paired with the 8k are great. I'm using the 1/3/8/12k Naniwas at the moment and they work really well. I also have the 1/4/8/16k Shaptons, but I think the edges are a little more harsh off the Shaptons than the Naniwas, which give a softer feeling edge.