I Got My Norton Combo Package Today!

Well, I finally saved enough loose change (literally! A coin-rolling machine can do wonders to help with the various AD's on a tight budget), and got my Norton combo package in the post today; it's the one with the 220/1k, 4/8k, flattening stone and "pond"). After reading all the related threads and watching the videos, I had no trouble lapping the stones through a couple of grids to nice, smooth surfaces. Per the instructions of the experts, I used the flattening stone and a Smith's diamond-plate knife hone I had to do the figure-eights, letting the weight of the flattening stone/diamond plate do the work, then chamfering the edges. Everything feels nice and smooth now (no imbedded grit!), though I've read that I may need to take off as much as 1/8" off the 4k side for optimum results.

Meanwhile, I've sent my son's Dovo Best 5/8" out to Lynn and Don for its first free honing (got it during the "Lifetime Honing" deal!), and will try to exercise enough control to wait for its return as a reference blade.

What I have otherwise are a Filarmonica DT 12, and an Unexcelled Improved Eagle, both purchased from our classifieds and received shave ready some time ago. Several months back I got a 3-line Swaty barber hone to touch both up on. That no longer seems to be working as well as it once did, even followed up by some laps on CrOx linen, about 100 each way on colored newsprint, and my usual progression of about 30/50 linen/leather on my Tony Miller latigo.

Both are starting to tug a bit, and give some irritation and weepers. If I've done my homework correctly on here, the usual advice is, given a solid bevel (both will still pop arm hairs), to do some light laps on the highest grit (8k), then step down to a lower grit if that is not enough.

So what say you experts? Start with 8k, then maybe try a light pyramid of 4 and 8k if they need a little more? I really am someone who likes to do things right the first time when possible. I don't want to be the guy who keeps posting the "I screwed up-Now what?" threads.

I probably need to get some e-bay cheapies to practice on before I screw up the only 2 razors now in my rotation. I'm just interested in any thoughts you guys have. Thanks in advance-Aaron

Wow you have done great home work.
Try 8k and see what happens.
if you don't get what you like you can go back to 4 k then move forward.
gl

Thanks Sham-That Improved Eagle is the one you honed once, and weren't impressed with the steel quality; you said it kept breaking down, ended up honing it with tape if you recall. I have been able to get good shaves with it for a while, touching up on the Swaty with the 1 layer of tape, but will try the 8k to see what happens. Thanks-Aaron

if edge doesn't come back with 8k then you could be a little aggressive.
Try this may help.
at first hone on 1k without tape.
Next go to 4k without tape until blade will pop up arm hairs above skin level.
Next go head tape the edge and make 20 strokeson 8k.
check the edge? not good make 10 more light strokes on 8k
Not good enough make 5 more strokes check the edge?
ok stop if not just keep doing 5 light strokes and check the edge.
hope this helps.
Let me add this not to confuse.
i say 5 light strokes and check often the edge because of steel quality. if you would aggressive edge will brake down and you will end up going back 1k level again.
gl

Okay, thanks Sham-I'll try that if necessary. I'll go easy on that Eagle.

Stropping, and lots of it, can be very helpful here.

Many times, I do exactly what Sham is telling you to do. When my blades get like that, I usually can tell wheter or not a finisher will bring them back, and it's usually not. I normally go ahead and hit the 1k, reset the bevel, then go through my normal progression. You can use Lynn's Pyramid technique, and you should be golden....