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

Originally Posted by fragalot

I wonder how Lynn will fare with testing the ones he hones for other people if he's only allowed to shave with the 2 norton honed ones this month :P

cue backlog!

Lynn used only the Norton 4K/8K to hone razors for 2 years............

I heard he was getting fairly comfortable with this stone.................

I just finished my first shave with the CMon and had very good results, no significant pulling and the shave was comfortable. I did make my shaving strokes a bit shorter than usual but proceeded to shave as I do normally. I used eShave pre-shave oil and P160 Mordido. Considering I use paste and diamond spray a lot I thought this could possibly be a disaster since I can't stretch my skin while I shave but this was not the case.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Lynn used only the Norton 4K/8K to hone razors for 2 years............

I heard he was getting fairly comfortable with this stone.................

that's not what I questioned..

when I last spoke with you you said you couldn't keep up with testing the razors you hone for other people as it is due to your beard not growing fast enough...
and now you're technically not allowed to shave test them as it'd void the challenge

The spirit of JaNorton, as I understand it, is to learn/teach as much as possible about the Norton 4/8 and rediscover our appreciation for this hone.
It's supposed to be a fun learning experience - the main rule was to HAVE FUN!

If you're a stickler for following the "rules" of an event that's just for fun, the way Glen laid it out is:

Originally Posted by Glen

You have to use these two razors as often as possible, as many times as possible during January

It does not say that you can't shave test other razors - just get the most use possible out of two particular razors on the 4/8.

..........

A major milestone!!!!

Ok, I took my experience from yesterday's honing session and tried to apply what I'd learned today.

First lesson: Lynn's Circle video got me closer to a good bevel than I have ever gotten before. I shaved with the 2 razors I honed and was 'satisfactory' but not great. Good friends on SRP made a few suggestions to enhance the results, still using the circles.

Second lesson: The 8k can polish a lot better than I previously thought.

SO, I took yesterdays razors and started over today. I worked the 4k just as Lynn teaches. However, this time, I was not completely satisfied with the resulting bevel and how it raised hair, so I repeated the process on the 4k a second time, exactly as previous.

When I thought I was done on the 4k, hair was leaping off my forearm like NEVER before. So, I took it too the 8k.

I followed through with the circles and Straight and X strokes, keeping my elbow up as instructed. I examined it closely and thought it could be polished a little better. I completed 40 Straight and 40 X strokes and tested it again. I restarted at the light circle point in the process and went through the entire progression again on the 8k.

I finished with an additional 40 str8 and 40 X's and tested again. This time hair literally LEAPED of my arm. I made a pass about an 1/8 above the skin and hair literally covered the blade. I think I have it!!

I'm going to shave with just this razor today and see if it improved over yesterday. I believe I can even see a difference in the edge through the loupe. Amazing. I'll take to 50/50 to the Strop and see what I think.

Wish me luck!!!

Mike

OK, who's not having fun in here?? Pull up your socks and have fun, dagnabbit, or you'll regret it!!

I was talking to Aunty Jimbo the other day, and she told me that she would be using two of her quarter hollow custom jobbies for the Norton challenge. She's a funny old bird, stubborn as a mule, but hairier than an orangutan and knows her way around the Norton. I think she said she was even going to do a video or two. The last time she did a video or two it took 3 years, 7 lawyers, and my life savings to deal with the aftermath but I have high hopes this time.

James.

this challenge makes me wish I had a norton 4/8 and more than 1 decent razor :P

Today was just a smidge harsh. not horrilbe but needing...... something. I will try some stropping technique's and see what happens.
no change other then razor. I kept the soap combo the same from yesterday.
Paul

Originally Posted by mjhammer

A major milestone!!!!

Ok, I took my experience from yesterday's honing session and tried to apply what I'd learned today....

mjhammer--Thanks so much for your entire comment! (didn't want to quote the whole thing) I'm going to start again with at least one of my two JaNorton razors and follow this protocol; I also admit I've only watched Glenn's vid, so I look forward to watching Lynn's later today. I feel that I left the 4k for the 8k too soon, to my detriment. This IS a ton of fun!