Thread: Cut down nortons too small?

Yes, they're too small to learn on unless you are the kind of person that believes learning things the hard way will build character

I have done that exact thing, I kept hearing that Narrow hones were easier for honing Smiling blades (not true) so some years back another restorer AaronX and I split a full set on Nortons 220/1k and 4k/8k. He ended up with the hones for free somehow, and the deal was if I cut them down and lapped them up we would split them. I used 5 of the cheapest 24tpi Hacksaw blades made from Homedepot to do the cutting, the 220/1k was easy the 4k/8k was a PITA and took quite awhile... I smoothed up all the rough edges on my belt sander and then lapped them flat...
Honestly I have used those Narrow hones maybe 5 times, they do nothing that the full size ones can't do... Now your idea of saving some money by spliting the cost is possibly a way to go...

They are aprox. 1.30 x 8 inches

Glen, I believe he is talking about hones cut 8" divided by 3 ..... not cutting lengthways but three chunks or maybe it is 2 pieces halved .... IOW 3 or 4" long.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Glen, I believe he is talking about hones cut 8" divided by 3 ..... not cutting lengthways but three chunks or maybe it is 2 pieces halved .... IOW 3 or 4" long.

Ohhhhhhhhh !!!!!

Sounds like a bad idea to me, especially if you're learning. Learn with the real tools or it'll be too much of a pain for you to want to keep at it.