Thread: Norton Experiment

I am an advocate of the pyramid system but this weekend I wanted to try something different.

I took a razor that was not quite shave ready and not blunt either. With a Norton Prep stone I made a nice slurry on the 4K side and gave the razor 25 strokes. Cleaned the stone and the razor and turned it over to the 8k side. I made a nice slurry and gave the razor 50 strokes.

Came out pretty good. Good enough to pass tha HHt test. I haven't shaved with the razor yet but I'm anxious to see how it feels.

that sounds interesting, let us know how it turns out.

Vince,

I use this approach at least half the time on the razors I hone. It's my normal default approach, and it works well.

Pyramids can help you solve special honing problems, I've learned lately, so keep both in your arsenal. I go to pyramids when I have a razor that just won't get sharp the other way due to some weird wire edge or something.

Good luck,
Josh

That's basically my routine too... Lately, I stay away from the pyramid method, and doing fine...

I didn't know that you are supposed to make a slurry on the Norton 4/8K. I thought only a natural stone needed a slurry. Have I been missing something?

Duke

I think the pyramid system was realy designed to give newbees some reference as they start out. Once you get more experienced its a matter of feel and what every razor needs. I rarely use pyramids. Usually if I fall back to it it means I'm getting desperate with a particular razor.

I think in general a slurry can make things go faster but in my opinion they don't make things better. The Norton stones are very fast, I don't think they need a slurry while the natural stones are slower and will benefit from a slurry. Just my opinion gents.

Like Superfly said, it was an experiment, you really don't need a slurry on a Norton. I just tried it and it worked well. Right now, after the Norton I go to a Kitiyama 12 K, then to .50 diamond paste. All razors are different. I have a Udall Stainless Steel that I'll take to .25 after the .50 diamond paste.

That Razor will take that fine of an edge. When I tried the .25 on a carbon steel razor, the edge fell apart.