Thread: Norton Combo 1000/8000

I know a lot of people have the Norton 4000/8000 but I think the 1000/8000 is better. It can set a bevel with the 1000 side and give you a shaving edge with the 8000 side. The 1K/8K and a finishing stone like the Yellow Coticule, Chinese 12K, or Spyderco UF seem like a great combination for a beginner to hones.

What do you use to actually sharpen the razor. In the normal progression the 4000 is the stone that does the work of putting an edge on the razor, doing that on an 8000 seems like a waste of time to me. Plus you would wea out the 8000 side far faster than the 1000 side.

By the way where did you find a Norton 1/8000? According to their website they don't make one.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

What do you use to actually sharpen the razor. In the normal progression the 4000 is the stone that does the work of putting an edge on the razor, doing that on an 8000 seems like a waste of time to me. Plus you would wea out the 8000 side far faster than the 1000 side.

Then how do you set the bevel? What if the blade has been dulled by knocking into your faucet or sink? It would take pretty long to fix it on the 4000 side.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

By the way where did you find a Norton 1/8000? According to their website they don't make one.

It's sold by many places. Hartville Tool sells it at the best price I've seen.

I wonder why it isn't on Nortons home site? Weird, it is on their sales page but they don't talk about it on their main site. I guess this is one time when getting your info straight from the horses mouth was wrong.

I set the bevel on 1000 grit sandpaper. At a buck a sheet of which I only use a third at a time Its very economical. Then I do the bulk of putting an edge on at the 4000 grit level then polish that edge up on the 8000, I just couldn't do without something in the 4000 grit range.

Unless the edge has massive damage the 4K really doesn't take long at all. I have a1K but rarely use. For normal bevel work I just go from the 4K to the 8K. It seems like a logical progression to me. Additionally I would imagine the 1K would wear faster than the 4K and you would be forever lapping it.

The Norton 1k is a bevel setting monster, no argument there but I have to agree with many of the above posts the the majority of the sharpening action is on a 4K grit stone regardless of brand...

There is also a difference between bevel setting and restoration bevel setting...
For instance last night I did 5 razors 3 had gone through major restoration and I would still be bevel setting on a 4K.... The other 2 were just sweet as pie and tuned right up on a 4-8-16 progression....

You have to decide where the starting point is on the razor, but you still can't skip steps and IMHO
1k---8K is a huge leap.... as always YMMV, and if it is working for you, then by all means don't be throwing any monkey wrenches in the machine....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The Norton 1k is a bevel setting monster, no argument there but I have to agree with many of the above posts the the majority of the sharpening action is on a 4K grit stone regardless of brand...

There is also a difference between bevel setting and restoration bevel setting...
For instance last night I did 5 razors 3 had gone through major restoration and I would still be bevel setting on a 4K.... The other 2 were just sweet as pie and tuned right up on a 4-8-16 progression....

You have to decide where the starting point is on the razor, but you still can't skip steps and IMHO
1k---8K is a huge leap.... as always YMMV, and if it is working for you, then by all means don't be throwing any monkey wrenches in the machine....

I do the jump when I use lapping film. Apparently it's not necessary or advised with stones.