Thread: The Famous/Infamous Norton 4/8 "JaNorton 2012"

If last night didn't completely fry my brain...this is January 1st. I already posted how I honed the two razors I'm using for the month. I forgot to mention I used on layer of tape for everything but the stropping. This morning I couldn't resist another 60 laps on the leather strop and then got to shaving.

I guess we are suppose to be specific on the shaving as well as the honing. I preheated my shaving bowl (my 1.5 DirtyBird Scuttle is on its way ) and my brush. After a nice hot shower I applied some Proraso preshave. I then engaged in a little overkill on the lather. I loaded a damp brush with some Art of Shaving lemon soap. I then used a dollop of Proraso shaving cream mixed with some Glyserin and Lanolin (about 4-6 drops of each) in the shaving bowl to whip up some nice hot lather.

I did three shaving passes. #1 was with the grain. #2 was across the grain. On the second pass I went against the grain on the neck area and stayed with the grain on the chin and mustache area. I'm not good enough with the razor to do more than that. #3 was against the grain everywhere but the chin and mustache area. Those were still with the grain. Between each pass I rinsed with hot water and re-lathered. I can't wait for the scuttle so I can have hot lather for all three passes.

I finished up with a cold rinse and applying some lemon Thayers witch hazel.

The razor I used was the Boker Red Indian. It shaved like a champ. I really need to pay attention to the tip of the razor while shaving. It is very easy to let that sharp point reach out and get you. That wasn't a problem this morning. I am new to shaving with a straight razor but I didn't notice anything that made me think the razor wasn't sharp enough from just using the Norton 4000/8000. The blade wasn't pulling and seemed to shave easily. My biggest problem is I still tend to put a little too much pressure on the blade. That has a tendency to result in some occasional razor burn. That appears to be the fault of my technique and not the honing. I am working on not doing that.

Tomorrow I'll see how the other Boker shaves! Happy New Year.

Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

...I have a feeling the more I shave/strop this over the month I'm going to actually see an improvement in the quality of the shave.

Yeah Paul, I was thinking a similar thing, the first shave after a honing is not necessarily the best shave before a honing again. I think maybe the second or third might actually be better...

Carl

Originally Posted by jskiles

...I guess we are suppose to be specific on the shaving as well as the honing...

I think it would be fun if people could post the resulting shaves to the SOTD thread, maybe with a link to it from here? That way we get all the info but without posts that are 'too' long. Waddayaallreckin?

I'm currently away from home, so getting the videos I shot of the honing up here probably won't happen until I get back, but here's a brief summary:

• It feels like it takes me forever and ever to get a working edge compared to what I've seen other people do. This might have something to do with the 720 grit diamond plate I'm using for bevel setting.
• I cannot break myself of the habit of flipping over the edge instead of the spine.
• I *do* seem to be able to break myself of the habit of using two hands to guide the blade.
• The Norton 8k can provide a really nice polish.
• I still prefer my DMT8k because then I know all the problems are *me* and not the hone. With the Norton I worry my results are because it's not lapped right or there's too much swarf, etc. With the DMT there are fewer variables, but it isn't as pleasant an experience from a tactile perspective.
• Don't really like the comparative mess that the N4/8k creates, what with slurry and water getting everywhere.

My first proper shave with the Wm. Elliot today went well. It pulls more than I'd like, but the shave was mostly completely comfortable. ATG passes on my cheeks are always a bit problematic with any razor; deep pores means the hair kind of 'hides' and requires either more pressure or an aggressive blade angle. It works with the Wm. Elliot, but feels snaggier than other razors.

The Elliot is the only razor I'll be shaving with until I get back home and put the Greaves wedge on the hone. That's sure to be fun!

Well, I must admit to a first. First time I ever tried to do 2 razors at once, and first time both razors ended up with a hair splitting bevel. To be completely honest, I did three razors, as I have been having a lot of trouble with a Timor razor that I couldn't get a bevel on. I repeated the exact same routine to it as well.

But first, the report.

First razor I followed Lynn's Circle video to the hilt. Success. The trick was the 'light' pressure strokes and circles. It's pretty easy to do moderate pressure, but it's a bitch to do light circles. The light X strokes went a little better, paying attention to my elbow position constantly, as it wants to drop.

After the 4k, hairs were flying off my arm, so off the the 8k, exactly as Lynn said, and I got my first ever HHT that popped as I have never seen before. It split so easily I had to do it again, just for the fun of it!!

I followed the exact same regimen on the second Spike with the exact same results.

I followed up with the Timor and wasn't quite so good, so I did it again, before I took it to the 8k. It still is no where as consistent as the SPikes were, and it appears the heel is not as sharp as the toe, plus the bevel is not exactly even all the way across. It is thinner at the heel. I'll have to test a spot with it, just to see, but I don't think it's finished.

I'll report the results of the shave in the SOTD forum in about an hour!!

I'm stoked.

Mike

JaNorton Shave #2 has been posted in the SOTD forum.

Apologies for using the same pic, but I'm hanging out at the cottage, and well....I'm relaxing!

Happy New Year! Here are a couple of youtube videos for JaNorton. Feel free to post comments, positive or negative. The honing routine on the Meteor Razor Works was as follows:
4k w/ slurry
W/ pressure: 40 circles, 10 x strokes, 10 heal leading strokes, TNT passed.
5 heal leading w/ pressure, rinse stone, raise new slurry.
4k w/ slurry
w/ pressure: 40 circles, 10 x strokes, 10 heel leading, arm hair test passed.
Rinse stone, no slurry, change tape.
No Pressure: 40 circles, 10 x strokes, 3 heal leading strokes, 3 x strokes, shaves arm hair, 3 heal leading, 3 x strokes.
8K w/ slurry
No pressure: 10 x strokes, 5 heel leading, 5 x strokes, rinse stone, change tape, wipe stone w/ finger, 5 x strokes very slow, 5 heal forward very slow, arm hair test, 3 x strokes and done.
Strop 50 on SRD P1 webbing, 100 on P1 leather, SRD PIV 60 on leather.


Shave: Meteor Razor Works 5/8 blade
Cream: Al's Bomb "Boheme"
Result: BBS, one small knick. Man this 4k/8k combo is very nice (not giving up my Escher or JNATs, but still very nice!)

Thanks!
Glenn

I honed my Garantie and just finished shaving. I have been working on the Norton since Glen started this and have learned alot more about it and my honing. I have a bit of a tremor in my stroke at times and just have to live with it. Circles seem to be my toughest stroke to do correct with the one handed stroke being second. I have no trouble with x strokes using both hands and use that alot. I got a Coticule a while back and read and watched all I could about honing with it and after watching videos on it at Cotidlebe I started using the half stroke and really like it and seem to have good control while using it so that is what I do on the Norton when when the circles just are not working. I have my Norton lapped and made slurry using a DMT 325. I made one light pass on the edge of the stone to kill the edge and started to do half stokes with some pressure, 20 per side. I also use 1 layer of tape. It took me 6 sets of those with 10 x strokes in between each set to get my razor shaving arm hair again. I cleaned my stone and replaced tape, made a light slurry and stated doing just x strokes with 2 hands with a little pressure and trying to feel edge which Im getting better at but still have to look with my loop to make sure its right. I did around 50 x strokes diluting the sluury as I went. I cleaned the stone again and replaced tape and started doing x and straight strokes with just water and light pressure. I dont know how many but I stayed on the 4 k untill I could cut my arm hair above skin level. At times I have moved to 8 k early thinking that I would be able to get it but after a few passes on the 8k and a look with the loop I could see where I needed more work on the 4k so now I know how a razor has to cut my arm hair off the 4k before moving to the 8k. When razor was ready I made a slurry on the 8k and started x strokes with no pressure and after about 20 laps I start diluting over another 20 really watching the water in front of the edge as for now that is my best indicator. When I can really undercut the water is when I have gotten my best results. Im working on learning how that feels but for now the slurry or water working up the edge has really helped me to get my edge good and Im kind of a loop junkie so Im constanly looking with my loop for spots and then trying to feel them on the hone. I cleaned the stone and replaced the tape and did 5 laps the 4k with no pressure and 20 on the 8k with no pressure and my razor would cut arm hair mid lenth and after 100 linen and 100 leather I was ready to shave. Im finding it really amazing how much stroping can do for the edge after honing because I can feel a really noticlbe difference in how easily it cuts my arm hair after stropping as compared to straight off the hone. My shave was good, I do a 2 pass shave and have never shaved ATG but I get very good shaves with WTG and some WTG/ XTG for the second pass and do not get razor burn but do get a DFS. Im going to do a video when I hone my King Cutter and shave with it, definatly not a" how to" but just for fun and to get some pointers. I look forward to shaving with the same razor and actually letting it go through the cycle and touching it up when it needs it.
Glenn C

I killed the edge on the Robert Williams 8/8 French point (“The Purist”) on the rim of my coffee mug. It wouldn't shave arm hair at this point.

I put one layer of electrical tape on the spine and honed it 25 laps on the 4k side of a half-size Norton 4/8 combo. At this point the edge passed the TNT and would shave arm hair, showing the edge bevel had been restored, so I did another 5 laps on the 4k side to repair any possible damage from the TNT and moved on to the 8k side.

I did 25 laps and tried an HHT. The edge failed, so I did another 25 laps but it still failed. Another 25 laps, and the same result, so I did 25 laps with the edge traiiling. This time it passed the HHT, so I stropped 30 laps on linen and 60 laps on leather.

I shaved using the same brush and soap (Omega boar and MWF) as I had used the day before to minimize variables.

The shave was not quite as smooth as previously, but just as close. I noted some mild post-shave irritation.

Well I honed for the first time ever yesterday!. Basically I tried to follow Glens/Lynns 40 circles with slurry on the 4k side followed by x strokes. After this i went thru the whole pyramid method. The razor is a German made "harmonie" one I picked up from an antique shop a month or so ago. It pops hair on my arm now much to my surprise. I am shaving with it tomorrow evening. Yikes I am scared people!!