Thread: Favourite Final Lapping Grit

I really like to use 800 Gator grit for the rough side of my combination hone. The stuff cuts pretty aggressively but it's scratch pattern is finer than what you'd expect. I also really like using this stuff for my finishes on woodworking projects. I don't think I've ever used a DMT hone. Would you guys recommend getting about a 1000 grit or so? Is it really useful for lapping and sharpening knives?

Originally Posted by izlat

I do build a slurry on the Norton.

Am I the only one who does this? - Don't know

I've thought about that but never tried it . What do you use for a rubbing stone to raise the slurry with?

Originally Posted by izlat

I do build a slurry on the Norton. ... Am I the only one who does this?

I do not use a slurry with the Norton. I never tried it because I figure anything I put on the stone (except water) will leave a "residue" that clogs the pores of the stone... and that will reduce the aggressive cutting action typical of Nortons. I'd think the waxes and fats in soaps would soak into the stone much like an oil and really clog things up.

Originally Posted by izlat

Hey Lou,

I do build a slurry on the Norton....
For the record, some of my best results on the Norton came when I used shaving cream to build slurry (gradually thinned with water)....

Cheers
Ivo

Boy, that's interesting, Ivo....that's the first I've heard of using anything other than water on a Norton...I know that Norton makes a Prep stone, but I haven't found any recommendations on how to use it. It's white, and looks similar to the material on the 4K side of the 4K/8K.

shaving cream.....hmmmmm....any problems with clogging or residue?

-whatever

-Lou

I use pumice stone to clean my Norton 4/8K combo stone... Lynn mentioned this some time ago, and read it on the classicshaving's website, so it stuck.

It is really fast and easy, just rub the stone under some running water, and that's it...


Nenad

Sorry I missed the questions:

My Norton did not seem very aggressive from the moment I got it. Others have thought the same about theirs.

Clogging: I cleaned the hone religiously, and didn't notice much change in aggressiveness from what it was.

Building the slurry - pressure with a blade that needs some major work.

Disclaimer: I now realize that what I shared may, if you try it, deteriorate your hone - so either assume the risk or don't do it!

I only spoke about my results, which may or may not be representative.

I would say that even just water also creates slurry from steel particles and grit particles, which can clog the hone if not cleaned well. That's the major characteristic of man-made hones, afaik.

Cheers
Ivo

When I run a blade on my Norton 4K without tape, I see that is still cuts quite a bit, so I don't think I have lost anything. On the other hand, it may be that the cream promotes hone disintegration. I also kept my hone in a bucket for extended times, but it seems this is also not advisable because it can have a negative effect.

It dawned on my last night that I haven't been getting the same results with my Norton that I used to... I'm wondering if lapping with my 1K waterstone is having a negative effect. I'm going to try lapping with some 400 or 600 grit sandpaper and report back. Maybe I'll try scrubbing it first in case I left some 1K slurry on it...

Josh

I "refresh" and "clean" with the Norton 1K and lap with wet/dry sandpaper. I start with 600 grit (because I have so much of it) and finish with 1000 grit. Then it goes under running water of course for a final rubbing/cleaning with a nylon scrub pad.


Just my way,