Thread: Norton 4K/8K

I have a large tool box, 2 cardboard boxes, plus a water tub/soaking bin and another stack of stones on the counter I decided to go with a set just for the straight razors and use the others for the various knives I got them for (many are J nats with specific tasks in mind!). I will eventually replace the Norton 4K with something else, the 8K is good enough for me now and the 12K SuperStone really makes the bevel a bit cleaner! When I am done with the 12K, it is VERY obvious if the bevel isn't set fully I also have 1 micron Boron Carbide paste on Balsa, .5 Crox, .5 and .25 CBN spray on Balsa, Illinois 127 Cowhide and a horsehide and roo strop for a magnetic stropping base that also fits all of the balsa strops.

The Bester and the Super Stone 1k should both set a bevel just fine. If you are able to cut hair at higher grits, you should can cut hair off the 1k’s.

Most probably your bevel is not set off the 1k and it is hit or miss if it will come together with higher grit stones. Do not move up off the 1k until you are absolutely positive the bevel is COMPLETELY set from heel to toe. Learn to determine if the bevel is set by looking straight down at it with magnification.

Forget the Jnats for now and use the synthetic progression only, you have a nice set, all you will ever need really, once you have master that, then experiment with Jnats. Chances are your Jnats are not even 8k and you’re just going backwards.

You can lap them flat with 80 grit Wet & Dry and work up to 400. Really a 12 super stone edge is very hard to beat.

Yeah, the Bester set the bevel well, but with the J Nats, some weren't fully flat, so the actual edge area wasn't always getting cleaned up by the next stone. I went Bester 1200, Hard San Aoto (around 3-5K), then to a Yaginoshima Asagi, then tried a Takashima, Nakayama (2 different ones), and Ozuka Asagi. I also have 2 Narutaki, Meara, San Shobu, 2 Hakka stones (lower grit) and some others I forgot about but didn't try. The Ozuka Asagi gave the best edge of the J Nats, but the all J Nat route didn't work edge wise because some stones weren't flat enough and didn't refine the edge at that grit. The San Aoto was a bit out of flat, so when I went to the flatter higher grit stones, there were parts of the edge that were still at a lower grit
afterwards.

Yeah, I am sticking to the synthetics now so I have a better base line and make sure the bevel is set, then after the 12K, I can use the J Nats to see what type of edge they leave and what I prefer. Baseline with synthetics, and then I can try the edge off the 12K, then off a J nat, etc and be able to compare the edges on the same razor and change up the stone/strops to see what works. This time around, I didn't even touch the J Nats, did the 12K, then some got a 1/2 CBN spray and horsehide, others got a 1/4 micron CBN spray and Roo leather strop. Kinda fun to play around with different stuff! I got a couple nicks from the square end of one of the blades and didn't even feel it.

I will agree your Jnats need to be flat. If you are seeing areas that don 't make contact on the edge the stones need correcting.
That said not all your stones may be ideal for razors especially a soft Aoto. I'm assuming it's a soft stone.

Wise move.

I like the 12K edge after Chrome Oxide or .50 CBN and use the .25 for maintenance. You can paste a razor daily on the .25 CBN, the edge will continue to get better for up to about a week, then plateau to a very nice edge.

Try misting the CBN strop with distilled water for a super finish.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I will agree your Jnats need to be flat. If you are seeing areas that don 't make contact on the edge the stones need correcting.
That said not all your stones may be ideal for razors especially a soft Aoto. I'm assuming it's a soft stone.

One of my father's favorite sayings was; Don't Ask Just Anyone, Ask Someone Who Knows Something!

Thanks for the info my good mate

Originally Posted by cudarunner

One of my father's favorite sayings was; Don't Ask Just Anyone, Ask Someone Who Knows Something!

Thanks for the info my good mate

Roy. You reminded me of my ex-boss who used to often ask to speak to someone with some intelligence when he got on the phone to order parts. Some got insulted & some just passed the phone to their superior but we mostly got the right parts delivered .

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Roy. You reminded me of my ex-boss who used to often ask to speak to someone with some intelligence when he got on the phone to order parts. Some got insulted & some just passed the phone to their superior but we mostly got the right parts delivered .

If the Big Pond wasn't separating us I'd swear that your ex-boss and my dad were brothers. Dad just called them as he saw them/he'd never have lasted here at SRP

Back to the Question At Hand

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Roy. You reminded me of my ex-boss who used to often ask to speak to someone with some intelligence when he got on the phone to order parts. Some got insulted & some just passed the phone to their superior but we mostly got the right parts delivered .

When I asked that question when talking to Time Warner Cable, they hung up. Unfortunately they were just being honest…

Originally Posted by Euclid440

When I asked that question when talking to Time Warner Cable, they hung up. Unfortunately they were just being honest…

Takes a bit of luck sometimes with IT stuff .. or they just put you on hold for a long time till they escalate to someone capable.