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After honing several razors on my Norton 4K, the surface is covered with blackish material. I followed someone's advice and scrubbed it under running warm water using a Scotch Brite pad. It reduced the black to a grey color but did not restore it to its original white color. Any suggestions for getting rid of the remaining discolorations will be appreciated. Thanks.
Duke
Duke,
Did you use a green Scotch Brite pad? I tried the blue ones and they didn't do it...
I can pretty much get mine white with the green pads. But if that doesn't work, get your sandpaper out and do a quick lapping session. If your hone is that black, chances are it could use some lapping anyway. I'd recommend 400 grit if you haven't lapped it yet, followed by 800 or 1000 grit.
Josh
I lap mine. By the time they get like that they need it anyway.
Thanks guys. I didn't think about using sand paper, but should have. First, however, I'm going to try using a green Scotch Brite pad as Josh suggests. If that doesn't do the job then I'll re-lap it, although I didn't hone that many razors to really need a lapping. I appreciate the suggestions.
Duke
I'm glad you posted this, as I was going to ask the same question. To add to the problem, I think my 'black stuff' may be the electrical tape that I am using to cover the spines while honing. Is that likely? Does anyone know if it's metal buildup, the tape or a combination of both?
Side Note: the Taylor that you sharpened for me is scary sharp Josh. Very nice work, and I am humbled when I try it myself. I'll keep on keeping on though.
thx - John
Usually it is the metal build up. I use the Norton flattening stone to clean and lap mine at the same time. It really makes the job easy.
Lynn
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've never seen buildup from the electrical tape. That tends to come off in little black balls that float on the top of the puddle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Namdnas
I usually notice more buildup when I use tape, which I always do these days. Especially if you're using some pressure it does tend to build up on the edge of the stone.
Either way, it doesn't really matter. Lapping the stone regularly is good for it, and it'll take you a long time to "use up" your 4K. Lynn said recently that he's "only" gone through 5 1/2 Nortons, and he's sharpened over 7,000 razors. That's an average of more than 1,000 per stone, and I'm sure some of these were real dogs. You aren't in danger of ruining your stone anytime soon by doing regular maintenance.
John, thanks for the feedback. Every razor is a unique challenge, and I'm always a little nervous when I send one off. (My most recent project took me about five or six hours of honing to remove a bad frown and restore the bevel.) Your final razor is next up on my project list, so you'll be hearing from me soon. :)
Josh
Quote:
Originally Posted by Namdnas
I lap mine on a 1000 grit frequently. It makes a world of difference in honing.
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
I apologize for bumping such an old thread, but that right there is just good stuff. Wiki material, really.Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard
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.
:y 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.