Thread: Lap up the Norton

Hello all!

I'm trying to learn to hone and I just bought a Norton 4k/8k waterstone. I lapped it and started doing some work on a somewhat dull razor that I had. Soon the stone seemed to get kind of junked up after a decent amount of passes. Is this a hone that you need to lap often if you're doing more than just a quick keen-up or is there some other good way to keep it clean? Advice?

Are you using water?

I have found that a little dishwashing soap and a scotchbrite pad cleans them up well. You can also buff it a little with some 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper if you want it to look nice but it's not really necessary.

Yes, I am using water. Do you find that the stone cuts just as well when it is a bit junky? I was just starting to have the feeling that it wasn't cutting as well.
Thanks for the cleaning tips!

Imo the norton needs to be lapped regularly. I usually lap it each time I hone a razor.
Not so much because of the hollowing, but mainly to clean the surface. It loads up with grey crud when metal is abraded from the razor. especally if the bevels need to be formed still, the 4000 side loads up fairly quick.

If I do major work on an edge on the 4000, I hone until I feel that the bevels are good, then I lap the stone and only then will I think about honing for sharpness.

I agree with Bruno.

I lightly lap/refresh the hone before each razor.
I will clean/scrub the razor at intervals while honing.
I use a lot of water and keep a spritzer bottle next to me for that purpose.
After a major bevel setting session use the pencil grid technique to lap the hone.
When I lap I always finish with a 1000 grit to give the hone the right "texture" for me.


The frequency of cleaning and lapping a hone is just starting to be discussed in these forums. It does make a major difference in the performance of the hone.

+1 Your Norton will need to be cleaned and lapped at least before each honing session.