Thread: received my Norton Combo 220/1000 and 4000/8000 today

Been watching all the videos i can find and i think I'm ready to try these new stones...I've honed my Gold Dollar with Lapping film pretty successfully, and i think i have a decent grasp on the technique and the process........

i know i need to lap about 1/8" off each stone with the 220 grit lapping stone that comes with the kit according to Lynn's YouTube videos....But how can i go about flattening the lapping stone itself? i hear they can often be slightly off...

also, i literally don't know a single person who straight razor shaves, let alone knows anything about honing haha

is there anyone on the forum here from the Worcester, MA area who might be interested in a honing session?

i also routinely use face time on my iPad for video chat, it works very well!

thanks guys!

I use a granite tile and w/d sandpaper, (Norton or 3M paper don't waist you time with others IMO). The tile will be really close or completely flat. And for that matter just lap with the W/D as it is less likely to put deep scratches in your hones.

The best thing would be to get a DMT 8"x3" they are a bit easier to manage in the long run. I just got a smaller DMT and has really helped with prepping my hones right before using. But will get the larger DMT for lapping so that more lapping surface is in contact at all times and will produce more consistent results.

There are many threads and much talk about lapping here just read in the hones and honing threads, you'll find them.

The lapping stone that comes with the Nortons takes forever to use. I highly recommend investing and the Shapton lapping plate or the DMT lapping plate - they make lapping a breeze and will make your stones laser flat. Also make sure to use figure eights - this both works better and ensures an even flat stone. I count the figure eights and then flip the stone 180 and do the same number to avoid any variances that may occur from applying uneven pressure - this way your stones will wear down evenly. Also, don't forget to bevel the edges of the stones slightly.

-john

It's awfully easy to get caught up in the minutiae of the honing process. My experience is that the Norton flattener works like a charm. Us a pencil to draw a grid on your hones, walk them over to the kitchen sink, and rub them together in a circular pattern under running water. When you can't see the grid any more you're ready to go. Shouldn't take more than a minute or two. I'm pretty sure that Norton uses laser-guided cutting equipment to cut their stones, taking off 1/8" strikes me as way way too much. And no, this doesn't have to be done every 15 minutes -- I end up lapping my hones every 3 razors or so.

Take it easy with the "coarse" stones -- I do 90% of my bevel-setting on the 4000. When you can shave comfortably off your 4000, your bevel is set.

Originally Posted by hillbillypick

I use a granite tile and w/d sandpaper, (Norton or 3M paper don't waist you time with others IMO). The tile will be really close or completely flat. And for that matter just lap with the W/D as it is less likely to put deep scratches in your hones.

The best thing would be to get a DMT 8"x3" they are a bit easier to manage in the long run. I just got a smaller DMT and has really helped with prepping my hones right before using. But will get the larger DMT for lapping so that more lapping surface is in contact at all times and will produce more consistent results.

There are many threads and much talk about lapping here just read in the hones and honing threads, you'll find them.

Ditto on the marble and sandpaper here. I haven't bought a DMT325,,,,yet, but the sandpaper laps my hone and slurry stone just fine. Had both laying around anyway. It was the obvious budget conscious choice.

Using a pencil to set a grid on your hones before lapping was really helpful for me. See the how to here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ne_Lapping_101