Thread: Buying a Norton, anything else?

Im seriously thinking of picking up a Norton to start off honeing. Do i really need anything else? im planning on using wet/dry emery paper for lapping on a granit block, anything else? do you really need a slurry stone? any recommended suggestions? or will the 4k/8k. stone be okay for starting out?

Originally Posted by marklar

Im seriously thinking of picking up a Norton to start off honeing. Do i really need anything else? im planning on using wet/dry emery paper for lapping on a granit block, anything else? do you really need a slurry stone? any recommended suggestions? or will the 4k/8k. stone be okay for starting out?

If you're working on razors that are not chipped or very dull I would say yes that is fine. If you are going to be doing ebay specials you might want to pick up a DMT 1200 grit or a Norton 1000 for removing chips and setting bevels. I'm more or less a newbie myself but more knowledgeable members will be along shortly.

Originally Posted by marklar

Im seriously thinking of picking up a Norton to start off honeing. Do i really need anything else? im planning on using wet/dry emery paper for lapping on a granit block, anything else? do you really need a slurry stone? any recommended suggestions? or will the 4k/8k. stone be okay for starting out?

I have a Norton 4K/8K, which I think is just fine for maintaining razors that have not been badly abused. I also started-off by lapping with abrasive paper (Imperial WOD P600) on a granite counter top and have had nothing but trouble. The problem is that grit from the abrasive paper gets embedded in the waterstone, making it unusable. I ended up ordering a Norton flattening stone and prep stone from Howard Schechter at www.theperfectedge.com. They havn't arrived yet but Howard said that he doesn't like lapping with sandpaper for the very reason I was having problems. He told me that the Norton flattening stone was OK to save a little bit of money (and, as I said, all I want to do is maintain razors without major problems) but that he really recommends the DMT 8" Coarse for flattening the Norton. If you get the Norton flattening stone, you should also get the prep stone because I have heard several people say that the Norton flattening stone leaves the surface a little rough. As I said, I am mostly repeating the advice given to me by people who should know but, from my own experience, I can tell you that flattening a Norton on sandpaper is not a good long-term solution.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

I have a Norton 4K/8K, which I think is just fine for maintaining razors that have not been badly abused. I also started-off by lapping with abrasive paper (Imperial WOD P600) on a granite counter top and have had nothing but trouble. The problem is that grit from the abrasive paper gets embedded in the waterstone, making it unusable. I ended up ordering a Norton flattening stone and prep stone from Howard Schechter at www.theperfectedge.com. They havn't arrived yet but Howard said that he doesn't like lapping with sandpaper for the very reason I was having problems. He told me that the Norton flattening stone was OK to save a little bit of money (and, as I said, all I want to do is maintain razors without major problems) but that he really recommends the DMT 8" Coarse for flattening the Norton. If you get the Norton flattening stone, you should also get the prep stone because I have heard several people say that the Norton flattening stone leaves the surface a little rough. As I said, I am mostly repeating the advice given to me by people who should know but, from my own experience, I can tell you that flattening a Norton on sandpaper is not a good long-term solution.

The Norton flattening stone will do the job but the DMTC diamond plate is well worth the exrtra $$ IMHO.

Originally Posted by marklar

Im seriously thinking of picking up a Norton to start off honeing. Do i really need anything else? im planning on using wet/dry emery paper for lapping on a granit block, anything else? do you really need a slurry stone? any recommended suggestions? or will the 4k/8k. stone be okay for starting out?

Honestly, I think you are in fine shape with just the Norton, and a plain leather strop. It was the medicine most used by just about everyone on the forums until perhaps the last year or two, when more exotic stones started becoming more available.
There's also always been an undercurrent of barber hone users. (I use them too, but not exclusively).
Still,
I think you'll be fine with just the Norton and a strop. You can experiment with finer grits, pasted strops, that sort of thing later, but it isn't necessary IMHO. Just a luxury.

John P.

Learn on the Norton until you've got some experience. I highly recommend you get a radio shack illuminated microscope for $10 and examine the blade pre- and post- honing to see what you've done at 100x. When you're ready to move on and see what other stones will do, give me a call and we can chat. It's really easy to spend a lot of money on hones and still not be satisfied with your shaving results.

Howard, knowing before I ask this question that its hard to be exact, what angle are you looking for when honeing the blade? Assume its a blade that has been honed by an expert to begin with, so it will be just to keep it sharp. And a follow up to that is how do you know when the angle is maintained?

And I own a better-than-your-average-bear microscope. I just need to know what to look for.

Thanks. Will be getting the Norton 4k-8k from you soon

thanks for all the input! i should have my ducks in a row really soon to place an order. for now, it looks like to get started, i should be okay with the hone, and a norton lapping stone. I've got a good strop, and a paddle strop w/ paste for now. ill add on as time goes. thanks for all the replies!