Problem with a Norton 4K/8K combination water stone
Greetings everyone,
I have encountered a problem with my Norton 4K/8K combination water stone. After I got the stone, I successfully lapped it using abrasive paper and a granite surface plate. I have been storing the stone in a plastic Tupperware type container, submerged in distilled water. When in use, I periodically wet the stone with a spray bottle. The yellow 8K side works great, but I have had nothing but problems with the 4K side.
I have cleaned up/restored several old razors and, with each one I have had the same problem when sharpening with the 4K. As the razors pass over the stone it feels almost like there are very small pebbles under the blades. The blades lift up off of the stone's surface, and bump along. When I check the blades, I find scratches and small chips along the razors' edge. If I run my fingers over the hones, I can feel the "pebbles" rolling. I can also see lengthwise scratches on the stone's surface that correspond to the "pebbles" I feel. I have come to the conclusion that these "pebbles" are actually chips crumbling off the surface of the stone and getting in my way.
My question for you guys is; is there something that I am doing to cause this problem, or is it possible that I have a defective stone? Has anyone else encounter the same thing? Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, on my latest restoration the 4K put several small chips in the edge of a J.R. Torrey. (I am positive the chips weren't there when I started.) I switched to a superfine diamond hone and removed the chips, then skipped the 4K and spent a while on the 8K. I then went to a Spyderco ultra fine, then a green chromium oxided balsa strop, then a chromium oxided strop, and then a plain strop. That blade is now the sharpest razor I own (even sharper than one I had professionally sharpened), so I my honing technique can't be totally fubar.