Thread: Norton 220/1000 + 4000/8000 + flattening stone = bad results

When I got my Norton 4/8k stone both sides were rough, so I lapped it with the Norton flattening stone (without lapping the flattening stone first), and the hones turned out nice & smooth. Maybe I just got lucky. I could use more practice though, as the finished razors could be sharper.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes the 220 or the Lapping stone WILL kill a DMT 325

Thanks Glen, thats very useful info. I have just ordered a set of DMT hones so I will remember that.

The lapping stone/hone issue has been around for a long time now and it seems it has been determined that a DMT 325 is probably the best way to go.
My experience lapping Nortons has been just about the opposite from Glens. The majority of times I have used just wet/dry sandpaper and never experienced embedded grit on my hones. But.... that changed when some new guys brought over their new Norton 4K and they had small holes in them that needed to be lapped out. The little holes became filled with abrasives and no amount of scrubbing with anything got it out. A DMT 325 was the best solution for that situation.

I agree that the flatness issue is overstated and also agree that even if the hone is rounded it can be used . For the new guys...the one thing to watch out for is a hone that is dished out in the center ( sides are higher than the middle of the hone). That needs to be lapped out.

Just my $.02,

Some time ago ChrisL and Utopian both recommended the DMTXX 120 for lapping hard barber hones. I bought one and it is a heckuva tool. If I have a water stone that shows it needs a lot, by looking at the pencil grid after a few strokes on the 325, I go to the XX. Get the hone flat and then draw another grid and knock the scratches left by the 120 off with the 325. I don't use it on all of them, only when it really has a ways to go.

You know Randy that 4k problem really started sometime around 2008 when Norton stopped making the 4k in the USA and the production whent to Mexico, I am pretty sure the 4k has been moved again to Canada.. Maybe somebody that has a very new one could check the box...
The last one I had go through my hands I am pretty sure I read 4k Canada, 8k USA....

I got a 4k/8k about a month ago, and there's a sticker on the bottom of the box that says

4000 Grit Made in Italy
8000 Grit Made in USA

The stone's behaving well for me. I lap it with a DMT 325.

Jimmy...thanks for correcting my omission.

Glen... agreed, it started when the mfg went to Mexico. Perhaps it is time to call Norton Custserv and ask the current status? I really like the Norton 4K but I am tired of having guys show up with a defective 4K hone, I have seen, IIRC, 4 of them now over the past 2-3 years and one of them is a backup hone that is mine.

In the past Norton was very good about replacing defective products. Perhaps tomorrow I will call them and see what they do about that now and where the MFG is currently located.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You know Randy that 4k problem really started sometime around 2008 when Norton stopped making the 4k in the USA and the production whent to Mexico, I am pretty sure the 4k has been moved again to Canada.. Maybe somebody that has a very new one could check the box...
The last one I had go through my hands I am pretty sure I read 4k Canada, 8k USA....

I just bought a Norton 4k/8k combo two months ago from Lee Valley in Vancouver and the box says Made in Mexico. FYI, the hone I bought was discounted because there were some issues with staining or something. True enough when I got home the yellow side has some orangy colored stain on it. This didn't bother me because I figured I can eventually lap it out. The main point is whether the stain affects the honing and so far I can say that it does not.

Yes, the yellow side is the 8K side and the stain probably does no harm to it.
The problem with small holes usually occurs with the 4K side, the white side.

FWIW --

I got a Norton 4K/8K from Lee Valley Tools a month or two ago.

The blue plastic box/bench stand has two stickers:

"Made in Mexico #24336" ( I think that's the Norton part number)

"4000 Grit Made in Italy / 8000 Grit Made in USA"

What a manufacturing operation!<g>

Charles

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You know Randy that 4k problem really started sometime around 2008 when Norton stopped making the 4k in the USA and the production whent to Mexico, I am pretty sure the 4k has been moved again to Canada.. Maybe somebody that has a very new one could check the box...
The last one I had go through my hands I am pretty sure I read 4k Canada, 8k USA....

gssixgun,

Hi, I just got one in November and it has the same thing on it as cpcohen1945 has said in his post. These things like to travel!