Thread: Got Norton 4k / 8k in mail.. First results

So I now have a Norton 4k / 8k combo

Have an old 2x6 diamond hone with a coarse and fine side. I think the coarse is ~320 grit

I used this to lap the new Norton and get it flat and smooth. Seems to have done the trick but a larger one would be nice for lapping. It's just what I had on hand.

I had 6 vintage razors that I had picked up over the last month or so to hone. I also have a GD that was honed by someone else that does give a smooth comfortable shave to compare with. It at least gives me a reference point.

So far I have honed all 6 blades and then put them on a 3x12 leather board with CrO on it. Then Stropped with nylon and leather. All the blades will cut hairs mid way up on the arm. and I have shaved most of one arm learning

I can feel a real difference from what I get off the stone and how it cuts to what it is like after the CrO. So far I have shave tested two of six blades. Both shaved but only one was a comfortable shave. That was the C.V.HELJESTRAND. The WH Morley clover shaved OK but not as smooth as it should be. Did one pass on one cheek with it and finished two more passes with the Helj. Will work through my other blades putting them in two piles.. those that shave comfortably and those that go back for more work. I also got a real nice Joseph Rodgers Wedge that sweeps the hair off my arm like a broom. Looking forward to testing that one.

First attempt at honing.. Not a master but was able to shave so I'm happy about that.

Sounds like you're getting good results for your first honing session. Keep it up!

Hi Tripoll3,

Did you set the bevel on any of the razors? I ask because of my experience... Let me share.

I'm new to honing as well and am quickly realizing that just about anything that I've gotten from ebay not to mention the antique store finds needed the bevel set in the end. In the end, it took me a some failures to realize that I needed to go right down to the 1st rung of the ladder and set the bevel myself.

Basically, I was assuming the bevel to already have been set and assuming whether the bevel had been set without tape, with tape, etc. That was just my experience.

Awesome on the success!

If you haven't checked out the JaNorton thread, I would definitely give it a read. It's long, but full of good info about the Norton 4/8. Basically the challenge was thrown out to kill an edge, reset the bevel, bring the razor to shave readiness and maintain the blade for the whole month of January using nothing but the Norton 4/8 and normal stropping.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

Oh yes I set the bevel and read the JaNorton thread before I ordered the stone. :-)

Originally Posted by Tripoli3

So I now have a Norton 4k / 8k combo

Have an old 2x6 diamond hone with a coarse and fine side. I think the coarse is ~320 grit

I used this to lap the new Norton and get it flat and smooth. Seems to have done the trick but a larger one would be nice for lapping. It's just what I had on hand.

I had 6 vintage razors that I had picked up over the last month or so to hone. I also have a GD that was honed by someone else that does give a smooth comfortable shave to compare with. It at least gives me a reference point.

So far I have honed all 6 blades and then put them on a 3x12 leather board with CrO on it. Then Stropped with nylon and leather. All the blades will cut hairs mid way up on the arm. and I have shaved most of one arm learning

I can feel a real difference from what I get off the stone and how it cuts to what it is like after the CrO. So far I have shave tested two of six blades. Both shaved but only one was a comfortable shave. That was the C.V.HELJESTRAND. The WH Morley clover shaved OK but not as smooth as it should be. Did one pass on one cheek with it and finished two more passes with the Helj. Will work through my other blades putting them in two piles.. those that shave comfortably and those that go back for more work. I also got a real nice Joseph Rodgers Wedge that sweeps the hair off my arm like a broom. Looking forward to testing that one.

First attempt at honing.. Not a master but was able to shave so I'm happy about that.

I will join you soon on this journey!

Got my Norton 4000/8000, bought from a local ad, it's slightly used, but has been lapped.

Have my Naniwa 3000k lapped (came with the above deal, won't use for awhile), and received my Naniwa 12k. Just waiting for the Naniwa flattening stone to arrive in order to lap the 12k...then I'll take a stab at doing what you've just done on 3 practice blades I have.

Congratulations!! Sounds like you got some good results first time out! I've got some vid's bookmarked using the Norton from this site, and will watch them as I attempt my first go!

Got to dive in sometime I guess, even though they are practice blades, were you apprehensive at all?

After reading and watching so many videos I went into it feeling confident that I could do it.

Probably getting it properly lapped seemed to be the biggest hurdle IMO. Everything builds on that.

Finally got all my blades shaving comfortably. My Geo Wosteholm & Son IXL blade gave me the most trouble. Not sure why but took several attempts to get it shaving well. It does shave well now. Need to get a finishing stone next to see how that improves things. For other new people starting out and reading this, here are the key points that got me through it.

1) Lapping the stone and getting it perfectly level. Can't stress this enough.
2) Everything is done on the 4k side. The 8k side is just for a few finishing strokes. That was huge for me.

Get it right on the 4k side. You can't fix it at 8k. Only a few strokes on the 8k.. then stropped on Crox board and then leather.

If you are starting out I would recommend this stone along with a diamond plate to lap it with. I believe that those two things will make your life so much easier and the rest will fall in place. You can watch all the videos but if your Norton stone is not lapped flat and smooth like the pros stone is.. you will never get the results they do IMO. Just my 2 cents. On.. and Chromium Oxide is awesome stuff! The blade feels gritty cutting hairs until you hit it with CrO. Then it feels smooth.

Congratulations, and welcome to the rabbit hole aka HAD. Jonathan