Thread: Time for Norton's new home?

I recently received a yellow coticule from Howard. About two weeks later I found a blue and yellow coticule ( for $5) in a local antique store. Is there any reason to keep the Norton? The belgium blue seems to provide the grit simialr to the 4k.

Is it time for the Norton to find a new hone?

The Belgian blue is a different animal than the Norton 4K, in my opinion. I think it produces a smoother edge and cuts slower. You can shave with a Belgian blue edge, but you wouldn't want to shave with a 4K Norton edge...

The Norton would be a good option to use if you're restoring an eBay razor. It would reset the bevel faster than the Belgian blue will, even with a good healthy slurry.

Once you get the hang of the Belgian hones, you probably won't use the Norton much for refreshing your razors, just beating new ones into submission.

Another option a few of us use is to get a fast-cutting DMT diamond hone to fix up eBay razors. The DMT extra fine is a 1200-grit hone, and the transition from that to the Belgian blue works very well for me.

Your 4K Norton will do the same thing, but it'll take longer.

Just my 2 cents,
Josh

Thanks for the input. I have considered the DMT. I might trade them out. I have really been impressed with the blue stone on the uptake. The size of the stone 5.25x2.25 makes it easy to use.

For what it's worth, I'd estimate my belgian blue gives a similar, if not slightly finer edge than my King 6k.

I really like setting the bevel on the Norton 4K then polishing it with the Belgian Blue, Belgian Yellow, and German Escher. The blue is very slow cutting, so if you don't have a hone with more cutting power and want to take on Ebay or antique razors then IMO your hone collection will be lacking. On the other hand, if you just want to maintain your razors then the Belgian Blue/Yellow is enough.

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

I really like setting the bevel on the Norton 4K then polishing it with the Belgian Blue, Belgian Yellow, and German Escher. The blue is very slow cutting, so if you don't have a hone with more cutting power and want to take on Ebay or antique razors then IMO your hone collection will be lacking. On the other hand, if you just want to maintain your razors then the Belgian Blue/Yellow is enough.

Try telling that to Alex (LXEmergency)!

Originally Posted by JMS

Try telling that to Alex (LXEmergency)!

I have seen the video as well. You can definately get away with just a yellow coticule, but it will take a LOT of patience for many razors. My method is much more efficient for me on the razors that I work on that need a significant amount of work.

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

I have seen the video as well. You can definately get away with just a yellow coticule, but it will take a LOT of patience for many razors. My method is much more efficient for me on the razors that I work on that need a significant amount of work.

I'm not disagreeing with you, I am just noting that some will!

I myself have never used a Norton before! I have a 1000/6000 grit Japanese stone, a couple natural Belgium combination hone, several barber hones, and two blue grey Eschers!

All These suit my purpose in one form or another!

Firebox, the main thing to realize is that Nortons and belgians represent two different honing paradigms; don't be fooled by the fact that they're both 4/8K combos. I wouldn't sell your Norton until you've mastered the Belgian approach and are certain you prefer it.

Also, I agree with heavyduty that if you don't have a real cutter, something to set bevels with, then your collection will be lacking. Even LX Emergency uses a low-grit hone for many ebay razors. The Norton 4K is fast enough for bevel work, and until you have a substitute for that (a DMT 1200, a good carborundum, whatever) then I wouldn't sell it. You may come to do 95% of your honing with just Belgians, but that other 5% is important, especially if you're dealing with a lot of second-hand razors.