Thread: Using the norton 4KX8k

I have a 3" Norton Water stone. I know that the X pattern often talked about is to make sure that the entire blade comes in contact with the stone. Do I need to use the X pattern on a stone that the blade can touch completely. In other words I am now sharpening the razor on a slant, leading with the bottom edge. Should I be pulling it straight down toward me?

jmsbcknr

Originally Posted by jmsbcknr

I have a 3" Norton Water stone. I know that the X pattern often talked about is to make sure that the entire blade comes in contact with the stone. Do I need to use the X pattern on a stone that the blade can touch completely. In other words I am now sharpening the razor on a slant, leading with the bottom edge. Should I be pulling it straight down toward me?

jmsbcknr

I Jim .... my advice is YES .... my reason for saying that is (1) while the big Norton will take the whole blade at once, other stones or strops you may be using won't and unless you can polish an edge to mirror bright, it is beneficial to keep all the tiny striations going in the same direction on the very edge. (2) The razor stroke is an ideally slightly slicing motion for the large flat areas of your face, and the angled striations on the edge compliment that movement. (3) David said so, LOL

Concur! :lol: Lynn

Now, i am confused about this one too.

I used to hone on a norton 3" the way you do. Slight angle (~30), and drawing towards me. Yesterday, a regular 2-3 passes on dry 8000 was done with an X pattern, after some thinking about the flatness of the hone surface. I think the razor hones are deliberately made 2 or so inches, to force the X pattern, forcing the razor edge to take stone evenly. It makes sence, since it is no problem making the hone 3" and charging a bit more for it. The professional barber would use what is best for them...

Anyways, the passes i did with an X pattern made a diference.

When honing with just a drawing towards me motion, the razor feels like i am honig on glass. But, with X pattern, there is a slight grinding feeling to it.

Now, i dont know if that is the way to feel, but it made a diference. Maybe some of you can clear this a bit more.

The Norbert guy on Nassrasur is honing on a smallwidth hone, and he is doing it strangely. He first hones one side of the razor X paterned to the left, than to the right. This would make the scratch marks crosssided, or maybe polished away. I have noticed he does the same on 1000 and 6000 grit, also on the strop. ???

I will try to shave, and post the results....

Originally Posted by superfly

Now, i am confused about this one too.

I used to hone on a norton 3" the way you do. Slight angle (~30), and drawing towards me. Yesterday, a regular 2-3 passes on dry 8000 was done with an X pattern, after some thinking about the flatness of the hone surface. I think the razor hones are deliberately made 2 or so inches, to force the X pattern, forcing the razor edge to take stone evenly. It makes sence, since it is no problem making the hone 3" and charging a bit more for it. The professional barber would use what is best for them...

Anyways, the passes i did with an X pattern made a diference.

When honing with just a drawing towards me motion, the razor feels like i am honig on glass. But, with X pattern, there is a slight grinding feeling to it.

Now, i dont know if that is the way to feel, but it made a diference. Maybe some of you can clear this a bit more.

The Norbert guy on Nassrasur is honing on a smallwidth hone, and he is doing it strangely. He first hones one side of the razor X paterned to the left, than to the right. This would make the scratch marks crosssided, or maybe polished away. I have noticed he does the same on 1000 and 6000 grit, also on the strop. ???

I will try to shave, and post the results....

Wow, and I always figured it was so a barber could drop it in a pocket easily.

I don't think I would say that the size was determined to "force the X pattern" but rather that the size is optimal for applying the X stroke. Also, being small and light, the hone can be easily held in the palm of the hand, making it easier to control subtle variations in pressure needed when honing. It is worth mentioning that to this day, with all the high quality larger modern hones available, Dovo still uses smaller ones, the largest of which are aorund 2' X 6".

Hal

I forgot that the primary use for the hone is holding it in the hand. I lay the hone on the table, and hone the razor Norbert fasion, holding it with two hands.

Maybe that is why i cannot get a good edge

Originally Posted by superfly

I forgot that the primary use for the hone is holding it in the hand. I lay the hone on the table, and hone the razor Norbert fasion, holding it with two hands.

Maybe that is why i cannot get a good edge

Try resting it on your upper leg on a folded terry-cloth towel while sitting .... I think that's less awkward and better suited for the strokes

Perhaps the most important thing is to be consistent in the pattern,pressure and angle that you use.

My personal preference is to hold the hones in my hand. I like the tactile feedback



Touching up a couple of razors,

I tried holding the hone in the hand, and what i like about that is that i can move with both hands, correcting the motions... But the stone gets too heavy after couple of strokes, and you loose tactile feedback, cause your muscules are cramped.

I will try resting the hone on my upper leg, and see how it goes...