Thread: How to Clean a Norton 4K

Well guys, I went straight to using 400 grit paper to remove the stains on the 4K. I used normal lapping technique and the stains were not removed. Any suggestions?

Duke

1) Scrubbing pad
2) More lapping.. Sometimes it can get REALLY out of whack and you need to use some fairly rough grits before you move onto the regular lapping stuff. Even then it can take a while.

Duke,

I concur with the "more lapping" suggestion. Lapping removes a layer of the hone, so unless you've got some incredible alien stone-penetrating stain there, lapping will eventually take care of it. It might take a few minutes and a few sheets of sandpaper, but it'll get there.

In the future, you might want to keep the stone cleaner by using a scrubbing pad after each honing session. That keeps the gunk from getting too built up.

Josh

Thanks for the advice. I'll get some coarser grit paper and also a green Scotch Brite pad and keep at it. I've learned my lesson and from now on whenever
I use the Norton I'll scrub it before putting it away.

Duke

Originally Posted by Howard

It's very important to keep your stones clean. Porous stones like the Norton can "load" with "swarf" and become steadily less useful over time. I restore several stones every week (all types) and I recommend a spray you can get at the supermarket or at Wal-Mart called "Easy-Off Fume Free". It's usually used to clean the grease and dirt from a dirty oven. You can also get it not Fume-Free but it's a harsh smell to have in the house. It's a blue can. It gets into the pores, dissolves whatever is in there, and bubbles it up to the surface. I usually let it work for a few minutes then brush with a plastic dish brush, rinse, and repeat. I've had vintage stones with decades of oil, dirt, and yuck come clean and reveal their true inner nature. BTW, the belgian stones are not porous and don't load so when I get a vintage one I clean with Easy-Off and then lap flat (they're almost always dished) with a DMT Coarse Continuous Diamond stone in 8"x3".

Howard

I apologize for bumping such an old thread, but that right there is just good stuff. Wiki material, really.

I agree! That was a good read, it gave me a few good ideas to keep my stones clean. Definitely going to pick up some oven cleaner and scotch brite pads now.

I learned this from by father whom I believe learned from the barber that lived next door. Its in your cupboard Baking soda. whet your stone and hands with water apply soda to stone or hands and rub using fingers and palm vigorously and intentionally,rinse and repeat until you can smile . This will clean oil and deposits out of the pores will also clean your hands in the process. the soda will not harm the anything. Have fun. Oh I believe those scotch brite pad fibers may get into the pores of some stones, you will feel them catching on the razor when sharpen.