Thread: Hone to replace Norton 4k

Originally Posted by Rosco

That's the cheapest new hone ever! It feels like I expected it to now, and is much nicer to hone on. As promised, the results seem better too, but I haven't shaved with it yet.
I did notice something interesting when lapping the Norton down. I tested it twice during the lapping by running a razor across it to see what it felt like, but when I had taken enough of the surface off I could definately feel the difference ON THE LAPPING PLATE!!! The Norton now felt like I was lapping it on sandpaper instead of a concrete block (I was actually using a DMT D8C). I washed the stone off, and sure enough it felt much better with a razor. I had taken just under an 1/8th of an inch off the stone.

Bart, my coticule is indeed a fast cutter and you can notice the slurry turning greyish after about 15 strokes, but it is a bit short for major bevel work (It's 1.2"x5"), and I would like longer hone. Are there any 1k hones with a nice feel? I would probably still use the coticule to finish off the bevel and for blades which don't need so much work. I'm interested in your idea of going from the coticule with slurry straight to the 8k. I would of expected it to take a lot more work on the 8k than you suggest. I'll have to try that.

Connor

Great to hear you managed to tame your Norton 4K.

About your Coticule, 1.2" is narrow, but that can actually be an advantage, but you are right about 5" being on the short side. For the sake of trying it one time though, it could do.
I often jump straight to a Naniwa Chosera 10K after the Coticule with slurry, without any problems. I own no Norton 8K, so the 30 strokes I mentionned are based upon what seems to work for others. If you decide to give it a try at some time in the future, I certainly encourage you to experiment a bit with the stroke-count on the 8K.

Best regards,
Bart.

Originally Posted by Rosco

I could definately feel the difference ON THE LAPPING PLATE!!! The Norton now felt like I was lapping it on sandpaper instead of a concrete block (I was actually using a DMT D8C).

Eeep! I hope you don't have shiny bits on the DMT plate now.

First I am going to say I liked and still do the 8K Norton but I couldn't wait to replace the 4K. I replaced with the 4K Shapton and could tell within a few strokes of the blade that I made a good choice. At $56 at Shapton GlassStone Waterstones it is a good buy. Oh yea, no soaking.

bj

FWIW, I've got Coticules, Eschers, Thuringans, Shaptone and other oddball hones. I have 2 Norton 4Ks, both single grit, in 8X3 and 8X 1 1/2 and I love them. Not that I don't like the other hones too but more and more the 4/8 is the go to hone for those grits. YMMV.

Originally Posted by Bart

About your Coticule, 1.2" is narrow, but that can actually be an advantage, but you are right about 5" being on the short side. For the sake of trying it one time though, it could do.

Best regards,
Bart.

Oh, I have used it to do the initial sharpening on a few blades and it worked just fine for the few that didn't need major bevel work. And I love the width of it. I'm one of those fools that cut his Norton in half. I like 'em skinny. I just want something a bit longer for the major work, but I would like it to feel at least a little like using a coticule with slurry or even like the Norton 8k. Can anyone compare the feel of the Shapton pros to what I am describing? Still not sure that I like the Norton 4k, although it is much more useable now.

Cnnor

Originally Posted by Rosco

Oh, I have used it to do the initial sharpening on a few blades and it worked just fine for the few that didn't need major bevel work. And I love the width of it. I'm one of those fools that cut his Norton in half. I like 'em skinny. I just want something a bit longer for the major work, but I would like it to feel at least a little like using a coticule with slurry or even like the Norton 8k. Can anyone compare the feel of the Shapton pros to what I am describing? Still not sure that I like the Norton 4k, although it is much more useable now.

Cnnor

Connor,

Try Coticule slurry on your 4K. Hone on that. I expect you will be pleasantly surprised. You could even try it on the 8K.

I am going to get banned for this...
(but I'm not joking about the slurry, you really should try it)

Bart.