Thread: Norton 4k/8k Slurry

I think awhile back one of the experts here posted something on using a slurry stone to create a slurry and I believe the consensus was don't do it. Even though the slurry stone might be softer than the hone what might be happening is pieces of the slurry stone might be breaking off but the actual minerals in the stone could be harder than your hone and could be messing up your grit schedule.

I've been told nogura stones are like chalk but you really don't know. Afterall steel is really not that hard on the hardness scale in comparison to most minerals so a coticule with garnets which has a hardness of about 6 or so on the moh scale compares to steel with a hardness between 3-4 maybe. The Norton is faster because its harder, its ceramic. So its not just the grit size but the material thats why a diamond stone cuts so fast.

A slurry is important for a Japanese waterstone and a Belgian coticule but not for the Norton 4/8. However it does make for a faster cut but it also makes for a wider bevel and the edge is not as fine. If you really want to use a slurry on a Norton get a fine Nagura stone. If Norton has a slurry stone you might consider that also.

Just be sure to finish on the 8K side without a slurry.

Originally Posted by George

ok.. isnt honing in a slurry important. maybe ill scratch that idea and just stick to the Norton as is..thanks to all!

The slurry issue is always subject to debate. Some school swear by it other say no way. I know that in Japanese tradion this is a major part of using the stones, creating a slurry with other stones but then again they are not sharpening razors as we are.

The info from the Beligand states that the stone will break down in use and the tiny garnets will become suspended in the slurry created and that is why they work so well. Both Dovo and Thiers-Issard use them and I was told by a reliable source at TI that they don't use oil for that very reason.....the slurry. They feel that other liquids like Naptha disperse the slurry and any peritcles faster and with their fine, thin edges they don't want any particles under the blade, only the stone itself should do the cutting.

There is a lot to be learned about this.

Tony