Thread: Is it just me?

So I've been trying to put my Norton 4k/8k to good use for a while, but still no progress whatsoever.
I've tried using different razors (a dovo tortoise, and old frederick reynolds and even a double arrow) but I still can't get it to pass the necessary test. I've lapped the stone using the Norton lapping stone, some wet/dry 3m sandpaper. The stone seems to be flat but for some reason it just doesn't want to cooperate. The only way I got my Frederick Reynold shave ready was by using some sandpaper and finished on a yellow coticule afterwards. I'm getting extremely frustrated with the whole thing. I love straight shaving but it would be even more satisfying if I could maintain all my razors without having to wait and pay every time. I'm starting to think that maybe a DMT stone would do the job...

Are you lapping with a pencil grid ? Only way to fly. If you are getting a good shaving edge out of the sandpaper and coticule the Norton should be be good too. If you have a bevel set it will pass the TNT. Once it does do not use that test anymore. Then go to the 4k until it passes TPT. Then do a pyramid 4/8 and strop and try a shave. If that doesn't get it go back to the videos and review them.

Yes I use the grid every time. I don't really understand why it won't give me a decent edge. It feels somewhat sharp but I doesn't really cut hair and doesn't stick to me thumb pas as it did when I used the sand paper. That damn dovo is a real pain though, even with sand paper. I've shaved with it a few times but I wasn't very comfortable.

Originally Posted by Dups

So I've been trying to put my Norton 4k/8k to good use for a while, but still no progress whatsoever.
I've tried using different razors (a dovo tortoise, and old frederick reynolds and even a double arrow) but I still can't get it to pass the necessary test. I've lapped the stone using the Norton lapping stone, some wet/dry 3m sandpaper. The stone seems to be flat but for some reason it just doesn't want to cooperate. The only way I got my Frederick Reynold shave ready was by using some sandpaper and finished on a yellow coticule afterwards. I'm getting extremely frustrated with the whole thing. I love straight shaving but it would be even more satisfying if I could maintain all my razors without having to wait and pay every time. I'm starting to think that maybe a DMT stone would do the job...

I started out with DMT's. the 1200 grit (DMT 8E) is a very good bevel setter, but you must break the hone in thoroughly before you'll get good results using it on razors. It will definitely set a bevel MUCH MUCH faster than your Norton 4k will.

I should have gone with the DMT. I just can't buy another stone right now unless I can trade this one or sell it.

Dumps it is not norton or dmt issue there is a problem with your tech.i think you are using too much pressure.I am not sitting close and seeing what are you doing but this is what i thought after reading your post.if you can make a picture of the edge and post then we will be able to guide you a lot easier.for now please go back to Norton 4k side and do 20-30 laps without pressure and come to 8k side do 30 laps and see what happens.in fast i don;t like to tell people how many laps to use because it depends on blade steel etc.in your case i want you to have at first sharp edge will encourage you move.lastly dont give up.

have u soaked norton stone it should be inside water for a 1 year ?
next please keep norton clean it does get durty very often
use water when you hone blade No pressure go for it. good luck

I soak it for about 20 minutes before I use it. And yes I try to keep it clean as well. Soak it for a year? First time I ever hear that one. I've tried light strokes, strokes with more pressure..still nothing..

Dups, I will, of course, defer to hi_bud_gl's more educated and more experienced response, however...

Personally, I think you have bevel problems. If you haven't previously sharpened these blades *yourself* to shave ready status, then you need to check your bevel. This means the magic marker test. Use a black permanent marker along the entire edge of both sides of the blade. Do a couple of strokes on the 4k, then look at the marker. If the marker is removed *at the very edge* of the blade, your bevel *should* be ok. It's best to make this determination under a microscope if you can. If the magic marker is removed *behind* the very edge of the blade, or even worse, unevenly along the blade, you need to reset your bevel, and your 4k Norton would take forever to accomplish this.

You do have a coticule.. good stuff. Bart has posted great results using a coticule with SLURRY to set new bevels.

It all has to do with angles... if the bevels were set at a different angle than how you are currently honing, you are doing nothing more than removing metal somewhere other than the very edge, which isn't every useful.

Randy has posts about using sandpaper to set bevels. If you do a forum search in basic honing you might find it or maybe PM Randydance and he will tell you what you need. He has told me that you can set a bevel with a 4K with patience and persistence.

I read Bart's post about setting a bevel with a coticule with slurry and I tried it. As Bart said it takes a lot of time. Of course it depends on the razor. If I had a choice between doing it with the 4k or the coticule/slurry I would opt for the 4k.

In his video Heavydutysg says that most razors sent to him that members haven't been able to dial in didn't have an adaquate bevel set. If you have an eye loupe or one of those hand held microscopes you can better see what is going on with it. Along with the TNT.

Here is what Randy told me to look for," The edge should be free of nicks and the bevel should go all the way to the edge. If you are using a handheld microscope then the bevel will appear as one color, if there are two bevels, old and new, then the light reflects off the bevel at different angles and appears as two colors. The scratch pattern should also be uniform for both the length and width of the bevel. When you have that then move on to the 4000, but not before".

I understand how it 'should work but I don't think it's normal to spend hours and hours on an almost new dovo tortoise without making much progress. The bevel looks very shiny all along the edge but I can't cut hair without having to put pressure. I know that sand paper could possibly fix it but I'd like to use my norton. Those things are pretty expensive and I don't want to buy sheets of sand paper every time I have to hone a razor.