Thread: Possible bad hone

Absolutely.

My three Nortons didn't need more than a half or a mm lapped off the 4k side, the 8k was good after the first lapping.

Originally Posted by crunchthetroll

If you're looking for a practice razor, check out whippeddog.com for a sight unseen razor. Won't break the bank and you can get one already honed so you know what to try for. Or if you are comfortable knowing what a shave ready razor feels like, get one not honed.
Even if you destroy the razor, you're only out about $40.

Not even that much. For a sight unseen razor with cosmetic flaws which won't affect the edge, you'll only pay $25. I know because I have one on the way to me now. Bargain I think!

Originally Posted by Bluebriz

Not even that much. For a sight unseen razor with cosmetic flaws which won't affect the edge, you'll only pay $25. I know because I have one on the way to me now. Bargain I think!

Or sometimes less...if you happen onto the right estate sale at the right time...




I took my brother out to lunch at a fast food joint yesterday and that cost me more than I paid for all three of these!

Nothing against Whipped Dog, but if you just want to learn to hone, you can get great deals on decent razors if you educate your self a bit

Originally Posted by unit

Or sometimes less...if you happen onto the right estate sale at the right time...




I took my brother out to lunch at a fast food joint yesterday and that cost me more than I paid for all three of these!

Nothing against Whipped Dog, but if you just want to learn to hone, you can get great deals on decent razors if you educate your self a bit

True enough, but whipped dog was mentioned and then the $40 price mentioned, so I was just saying it needn't be so Much. In my case I have non-shave ready razors, but never had a shave ready one to compare them to so 25 shave ready is a good enough deal for me. :0).

Most of the differences in how much the Norton 4k needs to be lapped comes from the fact they have been made in 3 different places over the years..

When I bought my first one in 2007 the 4k was made in the USA and required maybe 1 minute of lapping to get even and smooth..
Next they were made in Mexico and the first ones out were really bad, and required extensive lapping which led to the 1/8" reccomendation
These eventually got better
The more recent ones are made in Italy and are pretty good but still more lapping then the original USA mades..

The 8k has also changed over the years and require a bit more lapping now then in the past, the recent ones I have done take a bit more work then the older ones AFAIK these are all made in the USA...


So it isn't that we are trying to confuse anyone it is that the Nortons are changing

Regardless the advise above is correct "Lap until level and smooth"

Originally Posted by Bluebriz

True enough, but whipped dog was mentioned and then the $40 price mentioned, so I was just saying it needn't be so Much. In my case I have non-shave ready razors, but never had a shave ready one to compare them to so 25 shave ready is a good enough deal for me. :0).

Absolutely! I am just bragging

It looks like I've taken a little bit of advice from everyone, thank you all very much.

My whippeddog razor shipped today. This way I'll know what a properly honed edge feels like.

I lapped some more off of the stones (not an 1/8 though) and was able to improve the edge on my cheapo razor. This gives me hope for my honing future, strangely the honing process is very enjoyable to me.

And I'll be hitting up flea markets for some razors to "play" with and try and get shave ready. I realize this will take me a long time to master, but you've got to start somewhere.