Thread: dumping the norton

I've recently got a DMT D8EE (my first DMT) to "upgrade" the Norton 4K/8K and it is definitely worth while breaking it in lapping the Norton or running a knife or chisel over it for a while before taking a razor to it.

Now I'm a relative honing newbie only having 3 razors but as far as a comparison to the Norton goes :-
It cuts fast, not sure if it is faster than the 4K but faster than the 8K
I managed to get a new wapi passing the HHT using nothing but the D8EE, I've never got a razor to pass the HHT off the Norton - EVER, I usually have to use Chromium Oxide for that.

I had a little trouble at first but I made a fatal mistake of not only introducing a new piece of equipment but I was also changing my honing technique - going from two handed to one handed.

All in all I like it and the not having to lap and soak it is a definite plus.

Barney

Yeah, the D8EE is great for a number of things, comfort is not one of them.

If your looking for an upgrade in the comfort aspect, look elsewhere. If your looking for a hone that gets the razor ready for a finishing stone with the least amount of prep, fuss and time spent, by all means, pick one up.

I routinely take a butter knife like edge from the 325 to the 1k, then to the 8k (all DMT's) then finish on a Coticule/Thuringian/Chinese stone, and in approx. 30 minutes the blade is scaring hairs in half. (but for general maintenance the 8k and a finishing stone or pasted strop would be all you'd need).

The DMT 8k is just one of many routes you can take. I use 'em for convenience, since I really only get satisfaction out of natural stones when they are in the finishing grit ranges.