Thread: Norton flattening stone

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

This is something I've tried, and so far it's worked (but only works if you have the single grit stones). I use the Norton flattening stone on the 4000 until I get it perfectly flat. Then I use it on the 8K. Then, I rub the 8k on the 4k to smooth out the finish from the Nfs. Make sure you rinse both stones very well afterwards (I'll use a plastic scouring pad). Get wet, then get to honing. No problems so far.

I tried this but wasn't sure I was working the edges of the stones. Do the edges turn out well for you?

Originally Posted by ericm

I tried this but wasn't sure I was working the edges of the stones. Do the edges turn out well for you?

Guess I don't understand the question. Working the edges of the stones? Both stones are flat, and should be making contact across the whole surface of the stones. Radiusing the edges of the stones themselves is a different animal. I use a disc grinder for that. If the question was related to the edges I get on the razors, then yes, it works very well so far. I can't stress how important it is to wash the stones after smoothing them out this way, though, to prevent grit contamination. My thinking on it is that I get the finish on the 8k I want, with no greater chance of grit contamination than if I'd used wet or dry paper. Plus, I don't have a piece of float glass.

I use it on alll my hones. It's quick, and most of the time it doesn't make the hone surface too rough. However, there are some fine barber hones where it scratches the surface. The times That's happened I fixed the surface by lapping with a Little Devil.

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

I use it on alll my hones. It's quick, and most of the time it doesn't make the hone surface too rough. However, there are some fine barber hones where it scratches the surface. The times That's happened I fixed the surface by lapping with a Little Devil.

Joe,
Do you use the flattening stone on swaty's or strictly on Nortons? Sorry to bring up an old post but I just purchased a flattening stone and thought I go back and dig up some old threads.
Thanks in advance,
Fred

Swaty may be too hard and actually wear vertical grooves in the Norton flattening stone.

Originally Posted by cudahogs

Joe,
Do you use the flattening stone on swaty's or strictly on Nortons? Sorry to bring up an old post but I just purchased a flattening stone and thought I go back and dig up some old threads.
Thanks in advance,
Fred

I use it with all hones, but as I recall, the Swaty was one where it scratched the surface.

Thanks Joe and Firestart! I tried it last night on a norton 4k/8k and it did a good job.
-Fred