Thread: Norton Hones

Originally Posted by HHA

Alright I picked up my stones at a woodworking supply. I got the Norton set plus a DMT 8C. Pretty soon here im gonna lap the stones for the first time. Any recommendations on lapping them right?

Good selection! Draw a grid in pencil, no more than 1" squares, on each honing surface then lap it away under running water. The DMT plate will want to stick to your hones, that's normal.

Since it's a brand-new DMT,you'll want to wear it down a little before your final smoothing passes. Use it brand-new to lap away your first grids, then redraw all your grids, do the coarsest hone then do a LOT of lapping on the 8k surface. Word on the street is that you have to lap off at least 1/16th" before you get to nice honing grit. Some weird edge effect from the manufacturing. Now, if your DMT still feels as toothy as it did out of the box, go outside and rub it in the sidewalk for a minute or so. Really, no kidding.

Now give your 4k surface its lapping, and the1k, and the 8k once more, a normal light pass.

I realize this sounds bizarre, but there it is. I have done all these things to my own hones.

If you got the Norton flattening stone, you can probably break in your DMT by flattening it.

Have fun and don't let the neighbors look at you funny!