Thread: Slurry on a Norton 4k/8k

I have seen posts/articles where a slurry stone is used on a Norton 4k/8k to create a slurry and I have watched Lynn's DVD and observed Lynn honing a razor with just water on his already water soaked Norton 4k/8k.

Wouldn't the way Lynn demonstrates on his DVD eventually create a slurry?

Do I need to purchase a slurry stone to use with my Norton 4k/8k?

(BTW, I haven't actually done any honing yet, my Norton 4k/8k and flattening stone is on it's way to me.)

No, no need for such complications.

First thing you want to do when you get the stone
is lap it as it will probably not be totally flate.
Directions come with the flattening stone, such as

well with the Norton 4/8K it can be used with or without and as a colleague has already said, why complicate things. The Norton stones cut really fast anyways and a slurry just makes things happen faster on an already fast stone. Some of the natural slow cutting stones really only work with a slurry, like the Tam O Shanter but as your starting out you need not worry about them.

Have fun and forget about slurries for now and as the last post says make sure you lap it flat before honing anything.

regards,simon

Well what I was going to say are directions come
with the flattening stone, such as drawing a grid
on the stone to be lapped. After using the
flattening stone I like to go over it with my DMT 1200
for a smoother surface. You can also use high
grit wet sandpaper, such as 1000 or so to smooth
it out. Hell, you can use the sandpaper alone to lap
it, but seeing you already have the flattening stone
you may as well use it.

John

I'll be the devil's advocate on this one
I like using a slurry produced from the Norton Nagura stone.
Do you have to ??? Nope
Does it cut faster ??? Yep
Does it sometimes scratch that beautiful mirror finish ??? It might

I use a very thin slurry on the 1k Norton when bevel setting that gets thinner as I add water until it is completely gone and I am honing with just water..
The only reason I can give for using the slurry stone at 1k is that the first laps go smoother
That's my story and I'm sticking to it

Waterstones are meant to be used with a slurry. You can get that slurry the slow way or the fast way. The slow way is to use a straightrazor. The fast way is to use a slurry stone which, in the case of the Norton stones, is the Norton Prep Stone. You can also get a slurry going by using a kitchen knife which will get the slurry formed faster than a straight razor. After I finish honing, I let the slurry dry on the stone and reactivate later on with a spritz of water. No need to worry about metal particles as there aren't enough of them on an 8000 grit stone to do any harm. If I'm sharpening knives, axes, drawknives, plane irons, etc. on oilstones or diamond stones, I start with a clean stone.

Once again as expected you guys always come through for me.

Thanks for the advice!

There is absolutely no need to create a slurry on the Norton. It cuts fast enough on its own.