Thread: Norton 4000/8000 prep

I started flattening on 1K paper. This proved useless. I went to 400 grit and I have worn off two sets of marks on the 8K side. The middle of the stone, out to the sides, was the last marks to disappear. I swept off the stone and see it is loading up on the ends. I guess Ill go get some 220 grit paper like the literature from Norton suggests and flatten it again. I hope this will take the loading off the ends and leave the stone real pretty. I have some time now invested in this stone! I'm sure it will be right for learning to sharpen a razor on when I done.

One of the potential problems with using sandpaper to lap a hone is that some of the abrasive grit can become embedded in the hone. To remove it place the hone under running water and scrub it with a nylon scrubber or brush to remove any embedded grit. The first time you use a razor on the hone go slowly and see if you can feel any embedded grit. It will feel like a speed bump.The hone should have the same "texture" or "feel" over the entire surface.

Also, once you have flattened the hone with coarse sandpaper then continue lapping with finer grit sandpaper, 10 laps is enough, up to 1000 grit.

I dropped back to 220 grit and that was the ticket. After having flattened it somewhat with 400, the 220 grit made a flash of work to clean the stone up and work off another set of marks. I flipped it to the other side and made short work of that too. I set a new winkipedia razor on it for about 4 laps and it seemed real good. I felt things in the plane but maybe they were the tiniest bits. I should use 1000 grit to finish it off as you say. The razor swept hair off my arm. I must be on the right track.