Thread: Norton Roughness

I have a new 4k/8k, and I was told I would need to lap it. I also bought a flatting stone. I used the flattening stone first after penciling a grid on both sides of the Norton. It seems the 4k/8k was quite uneven (I could feel it when honing a razor, sort of a wave in it). I lapped it against the stone and then against some wet 600grit sandpaper so smooth it out (again using a pencil grid to ensure I'm getting it flat). Now the stone feels rough when I run a razor along it. The 8k side is worse than the 4k. It seems pretty flat though and I am getting a lot of suction on the sandpaper, just damn rough.

Is there any way I can get this thing smooth?

Run it under cold water and rub it down with a brillo pad.

I will try that, thanks. I just felt it now (dry) and it feels very smooth to the touch.

Ahhh, if it isn't one thing, it is another. This straight razor trip isn't as straight forward as it first seems.

You may have picked up some grit from the sandpaper. You will need to scrub it off.
It does take a bit to see the light, but once you do, you´ll never want to go back.

You might want to lap it with some higher grit sandpaper.

A surface of 8000 grit is going to be a bit rough after scratching it with 600 grit paper.

I've heard of some members using an old razor on their Nortons after lapping just to smooth them out as well.

Just my 2 cents worth

And yes it is more confusing than you first think but anything worth doing .... blah blah blah... and once you get the hang of it it's not so bad (so I've heard)

You might want to finish it off with some 1k wet/dry paper.

X

The 4K side on my Norton feels kind of smooth and hard but slightly scratchy when I hone with it. Like running the razor along a piece of glass with some grit to it... But the 8K side feels velvety. It has more friction than the 4K side.

I'd second X's suggestion to finish it with a higher grade of sandpaper. I usually lap mine with my 1K Norton waterstone. But 1K to 1500 grit sandpaper will do very nicely.

Josh