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

  1. #1
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    Default Got a Norton 4/8k but wtf is lapping?

    Ok this new hobby of mine is more becoming a hassle.. The straight razor I bought a couple weeks ago can't give me a close shave at all. My Mach 3 is out performing it bar none.. SO I am figuring that the blade might not be sharp enough.. I bought it at a local mall ended up spending over $500 for a Dovo razor and silver tip brush and the whole 9..

    Well anyways - I bought a Norton 4/8k online and should be here today, but now I am reading I have to BUY ANOTHER thing to lap it? wtf? really?

    I also saw some people that said I can just use sand paper, if that is the case.. what kind of sand paper should I buy as far as grit?

    sorry for the rant, but this is becoming more of a hassle then enjoyable in which I was really looking forward to.

    PS. Please fix your library section.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Steelstubble's Avatar
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    The instructions that came with my Norton 4/8k listed which sand papers to use, it says start with 220 grit sandpaper then in the case of your stone finish it with 400-600 grit sandpaper. I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time though. I found that almost all the problems I had early on were due to lack of research and not seeking out help, so you've actually made a smart move by joining up on this forum.
    Just about any straight razor you buy isn't going to be shave ready, so your main goof was shaving with it before having it honed or honing it yourself. No worries though, you've already got the stone and there's actually a very good thread on how to use just said stone to hone a razor. If things don't go well with your honing there are plenty of people that will hone that razor for you to perfection too.
    Could you tell us about your equipment too? I noticed from your intro that you went to AOS and I'm not very familiar with their razors ( a bit pricey for my taste ) but would love to hear about them. I've heard mostly good things about AOS other then their prices so I'm eager to hear how that's working for you.
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  3. #3
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    1. Your Dovo is not shave ready from the factory, no matter what the people selling it to you say. It needs to be honed.

    2. If you're just starting this hobby, you have 4 challenges ahead of you: 1. To learn how to shave. 2. To learn how to strop. 3. To learn how to hone. 4. To learn how to prepare your beard for shaving. Mail your razor to any member who has 2,000 posts or more below their name. When you get it back, it will be sharpened, and feel like you're shaving with a hot butter knife through butter.

    3. AFTER you have an already shave ready edge from one of our members, only then should you try to hone a razor yourself. And unfortunately, removing 1/16 of material on a new hone is standard procedure on Nortons....
    mapleleafalumnus and MJC like this.

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    adamf85 (11-06-2012)

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    . Bill S's Avatar
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    Sheffieldlover is giving you some good advice. In addition to what he prescribes I would add that you should send your razors out to a pro for honing. That will probably only cost about $20 each and it removes one of the two main variables involved in learning to use a straight razor.

    If you start out trying to hone your razor you will be introducing a huge new variable. At this point you don't even know what you should expect from a sharp razor since, apparently, you haven't tried one yet.

    Once you have your shave ready razors back you can work on the other major variable which is your technique. In the interim you can research the process of developing your skills (even if we need to fix our library). Send me a pm if you want a suggestion regarding who to use for honing.

    I would be willing to bet that there are thousands of posts in hundreds of threads addressing just what you are dealing with now. If you read enough of them you will see that there is a shocking amount of similarity in many of the threads. What you are experiencing is not unusual at all. We all went through it.

    Welcome to SRP.
    Last edited by Bill S; 11-06-2012 at 12:13 PM.

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    adamf85 (11-06-2012)

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    All I see is someone who wants to blame the tools, instead of the user. It's the razor, not me. It's the SRP library, not me. It's the Norton, not me.

    Take the advice of the patient people above me for sure. But do consider the idea that problems, in general, are more easily solved when accurately identified. In razors and shaving, some problems can be remedied by having a sharper razor, a more user friendly library, or a pre lapped Norton. But you really will have to spend some time learning in order to get this right. It's not a plug and play operation. Sorry if that disappoints you.
    sharptonn and 32t like this.

  8. #6
    zib
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    Hi, and Welcome to the forum. This hobby can be "Daunting" at first, like any thing else new to you.
    Once you get a handle on it, learn the lingo, learn how to use the tools, etc...it will be enjoyable like you mentioned. Don't get discouraged. The library is being worked on. Lapping is relatively easy, and as mentioned, Most razors are not shipped shaved ready.

    You remind me of, "me" when I first started. I couldn't believe all the stuff out there, and didn't know where to begin. Joining this forum is a good start.
    We have assumed control !

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    Senior Member tiddle's Avatar
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    As far as flattening the norton, soak the stone in the sink for about 15 minutes, then take a piece of 220 or 320 sandpaper, and adhere it to something you know is flat. Not wood, but stone, marble, hell a floor tile. Next take a pencil and draw a grid on the stone, stick both in the water and rub back and forth, in figure 8's, circles, whatever, until the grid is gone. Do this 3 or four more times. The 4k is gonna take a while, but the 8k should only take 10-15 mins. to do. Once that's done, let the stone dry completely out over a few days before storing, or it will grow mildew on it. When you here about chamfering the edges of the stone, just slightly round off the square and pointed edges before switching sides, that's to prevent your edge from catching and dinging the blade and stone up. Take the others advice and send the razor out so you know what sharp really feels like, so you have a bar set for your own honing attempts. AOS stuff is fine, just way overpriced, but I guarantee you no one in that store has done more than open the box and put that razor on a display; I seriously doubt none of them have used one, else they would tell you it needs to be honed before using. Honestly, I can see why you are frustrated, but blame the person who sold you the razor for their ignorance, not the hobby or process. That's why everyone here will tell new guys which places to buy their first blades from b/c we know "who" sharpened that steel, and we know that they DID put a usable edge on it before selling.
    Mastering implies there is nothing more for you to learn of something... I prefer proficient enough to not totally screw it up.

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  11. #8
    Senior Member mjsorkin's Avatar
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    Default Got a Norton 4/8k but wtf is lapping?

    Dude, if you are pissed now then wait till you try honing.

    Here's a clue: it's hard also. So if you think the 4/8 is going to solve your problem you may be disapointed. strongly consider getting your blade honed by a pro.

    My advice is to read as much as you can on this forum, Find a mentor here to answer questions, and enjoy your journey.

    Also, if you have a complaint about the library please put that in the suggestion forum. Make sure to be specific and also be grateful for this FREE service.
    baldy and Johnus like this.
    “there is the danger that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to nonlethal quantities of the drug make them resistant.”---Fleming

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    WOW!!

    Welcome to SRP.

    Sorry that having to learn about straight razor shaving and honing is so hard on you. It really does take a little patience to learn about this art and your expectations cannot be unrealistic or immediate.

    I do have a solution though. Pick up one of these and whenever you're frustrated, place your razor or razor and hone in the hat and wave the magic wand over it 3 times. Say the magic words "Great Shave" 3 times and then wait 15 seconds, pull your razor out of the hat and enjoy the best shave you have ever had in your life. YMMV

    Name:  Wand.jpg
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    Actually, you have already been given some great advice. Hope you take advantage of it. There is a ton of information here and it is primarily directed at helping you become successful.

    Have fun.

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    adamf85 (11-06-2012), Hirlau (11-06-2012), mapleleafalumnus (11-06-2012), tiddle (11-06-2012)

  14. #10
    Senior Member tiddle's Avatar
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    SOB Lynn, if you had told me about the hat, it would've saved me about $400 in stones!
    Lynn, sharptonn, 32t and 2 others like this.
    Mastering implies there is nothing more for you to learn of something... I prefer proficient enough to not totally screw it up.

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