Thread: Got a Norton 4/8k but wtf is lapping?

Ditto on the DMT 325 diamond plate instead of sandpaper for lapping. It's got other uses around the home as well, you can sharpen anything with that from kitchen knives to lawnmower blades. Personally I would go with the 325/1200 combo.

Originally Posted by tiddle

SOB Lynn, if you had told me about the hat, it would've saved me about $400 in stones!

Maybe so, but the hat costs $800 minimum. More if you use one from Belgium or Japan.

I just checked out SRD's page and did not find the section for magic honing hats, they must be pretty rare.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

You are a prime example why I could never be or be made, a Moderator on this forum. I have no patience for the garbage post, you opened with.

Straight shaving is not for everyone, friend.

I meant no negativity from this 'garbage' post.

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Welcome to SRP Adam. As for someone local to show you the ropes, you may or may not be out of luck, it just depends on your thoughts on a road trip. I suggest you PM Dylan aka "holli4pirating" his location states he lives in Rochester, NY., so he may be able to meet up with you to give you some help. I have a razor honed by him and it shaves like a dream. If that's not an option, then send it out to a member who offers honing services, they can be found in the "Classifieds" here under "Member Services" at least this way you'll have a reference point to start with as you learn to hone. Hope this helps and keep us posted.

Rochester is not far from me at all. Thank you for this I will hit him up

Adam, mate, we really hope you hang around, mainly because we know you'll learn a lot. The great thing about teaching is the teacher KNOWS he's just given someone something he didn't have before, which is really fulfilling. You might not know the site crashed a little while ago and some of us are still getting over the withdrawal symptoms, so, even though you said 'please' possibly the 'fixing the library' comment seemed harsh to some, combined with the word 'rant'. Now, I'm not really the right one to be talking about language styles, esp as I'm barely controlled as it is, but I think everything will be cool.

It really is worth hanging in there, cause aside from the experience (once you know how) the whole learning thing really starts to feel good once you work out how many facets this all has. I've been using a straight for a year, and I haven't even STARTED to scratch the surface of honing. I think you'd need to live many lifetimes to be good at it all (Lynn and others are exceptions, they are very, very old you know; hundreds of years I understand)...

Carl

Originally Posted by adamf85

Rochester is not far from me at all. Thank you for this I will hit him up

i sent three razors to dylan two years ago, one for my brother in law who has never used it because he was put on coumadin, and two for me. i bought a norton, a small coticule and a king 200/1000 (both from dylan) and a phig, and an srd strop and a bunch of barber hones, and i haven't had to send a razor out since.

there is an investment of time and patience in learning how to hone. i recently watched gssixgun's video on the back and forth style in the janorton thread and did three razors with it and got a good shave off each one.

i use wet/dry paper to lap the norton, and right now i'm keeping it simple and don't bother with a finisher. i'm trying to get a good shave/edge off the norton. there are so many techniques for honing a razor i was overwhelmed. i like the back and forth method and am going to stick with that for a while.

If you want to add a different and cheaper and easier way to hone, you could try lapping film. I've been straight razor shaving since July and have Japanese natural stones, a coticule and some barber's hones. I've tried honing on the JNATs and coticule and just haven't gotten the feel for it yet. I keep thinking about getting a 1K, 4K,8K Norton, but keep putting it off. The barber's hones are great for a quick touchup.

So after reading some threads on this and other forums about lapping film, I bought some and was successful in quick and easy bevel setting and progressive honing with just the film. It is especially easy for honing hollow grounds. Wedges are a bit more difficult for me and require more layers of tape. I use 12u,9u,5u,3u,1u,.3ul film and in that order. Set the bevel with 12 and go to lower microns to finish. I often add some stropping on CrOx on wood, linen and leather strop.

I do not think your question was "garbage". It does seem daunting to have to get hones and then something to "flatten" the hone. I'm sure once you've played with the Norton and lapping it, it will seem less daunting...or you could try the lapping film and feel heartened once again.

I know your grief,
I am 66 years old...In my life I have built 2 airplanes (one from scratch) restored several cars, self taught every kind of welding and machine operation. I was also self employed for 31 years. Ready for any challenge right?
Wrong. I have been sharpenng and shaving with straights for 3 years and have never had a harder hobby than this to master. Am I there yet? No...I learn every time I sharpen my razors or shave my face. Welcome to the challenge. You might not have the temperment required but you will be rewarded if you press on. Patients is the name of the game. Watch some of the videos by Lynn and gssixgun and you will learn more in the few min. it takes to watch than you will ever learn on your own. There is a welth of info here on SRP and everyone here is on your side as you will soon learn.

Now...Lynn was kidding about the magic but the true magic is when you have a good shave with a razor you sharpened yourself.
Stingray

Do yourself a favor and send it out for honing. It will give you future reference as to what sharp is when you start honing yourself. There are plenty of folks that will do it for free on the forums and plenty of pay to play sites. You can learn to hone or learn to shave. It sucks to do both at the same time. I did it but wouldn't recommend it.