Two Sides To A Norton Lapping Stone?

Following the advice on the boards, I ordered a 4k/8k Norton combo with Norton Lapping plate. Fresh out of the box, I set about lapping them with the grid method in the sink. 4k side laps like a charm, 8k side gives me a devil of a time. 15 minutes to 3 sets of grids off the 4k, 2 hours to get 2 grids off the 8k.

Today while working on a sacrificial Ebay razor (no shoulders), I went to lap the stones again. 4k laps up quickly, 8k not so much. Mind you I've been using the slotted side for all the lapping. Out of curiosity, I flipped the lapping stone over so the flat side was up. Now the 8k laps as fast as the slotted 4k side.

Is there a right or wrong side to a Norton lapping stone? I don't think I saw anything in the instructions about it.

Congrats on your first hones!

I have never used the back of my lapping plate. Maybe they don't make it as flat because it's not the side for intended use?

The 8k side is harder to lap initially. Later when you are just cleaning the stone with a few swipes on the plate, they are both pretty quick. The hard work is already done, from now on lapping is just an easy matter of cleaning the stone up.

Michael

Few things.
1. Grooved side is the working side.
2. Don't press down hard when drawing a pencil grid. Makes for less lapping.
3. Those Lapping stones need to be lapped with use & ideally from new also.. Flat surface & coarse paper to get the plate started.

The flat side of the Norton flattening stone isn't for lapping but works great for removing chips from pocket knives.