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

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.