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

Originally Posted by HNSB

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.

That Glen is one smart guy sometimes not all the time though LOL

I didn't want to eliminate Myself or Lynn or any of the other guys that Pro hone either...

I am already seeing people trying different applications of the 4k and the 8k I have read most all of the SOTD posts and people seem to be getting "Good" shaves in just the first two days of this...

Think about this for a second too, if by the end of this month everyone is getting good to great shaves imagine what this is going to do to your overall comfort and edges when on Feb 01 2012 you take these same razors and open up the floodgates with higher grit finishers, and/or pastes Muhahahaha

Guess my question got buried, so I will ask again,

According to Lynn, there is no need to wipe the edge, as honing on the 4K will essentially revert the edge to the 4k level.

Therefore, is it not also true that honing on the 8K would take a highly polished edge (like off a J-nat or Shapton 30K) ?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am already seeing people trying different applications of the 4k and the 8k I have read most all of the SOTD posts and people seem to be getting "Good" shaves in just the first two days of this...

Think about this for a second too, if by the end of this month everyone is getting good to great shaves imagine what this is going to do to your overall comfort and edges when on Feb 01 2012 you take these same razors and open up the floodgates with higher grit finishers, and/or pastes Muhahahaha

Yeah I have been thinking just that
I'm surprised how good the shaves have been already, looks like some good stropping also smooths out a freshly honed edge somewhat, at least on my BB it was smoother on the second shave.
Back to the Gotta tomorrow

I'm lovin' this. I'm having loads of fun already. Being at the cottage, and not having my hones, I'm concentrating on stropping variations and pressure. What I do know though, is that at 4pm today that 2 pass shave with the Dovo Best from yesterday was still soft and lovely. I shaved again anyway though...just cause I wanted to darnit!

SOTD posted, but results were amazing. My blades were so sharp this time that I cut myself easily twice and had a small nick I didn't even know about it was so clean.

Tomorrow's task will be to see if I can keep this edge with proper stropping technique as I think I'm done with the hone until later in the month when they might (MIGHT) need it again. hehehe. This is fun, and I"m learning TONS from you guys. Thanks so much!

Mike

Shaved with the W&B I honed on the 1st (here)

A nice shave, I've posted it to SOTD here. Last day of the hols so I may actually re-hone the W&B, as I'm a little bored. The edge was OK, but not spectacular, and it's not like I don't have the time to do it. Also, I want to try more of an x stroke, given the feedback above. However, I note in a video above pretty much a straight up and down stroke is used. I may post a quick video, just to show my probably weird technique.

I honed a couple of razors on the Norton 4/8 in December. Yesterday I set out with the two razors I will use for January:

Genco Square point 6/8 and a Morley Clover 5/8 Barber's Notch.

When the Genco arrived I checked it out carefully, and found a small crack about 3/4 inch from the heel. I set to work with a 1000 grit hone, and tried to get rid of the crack. It was taking quite I while, so I got some wet dry 800 grit paper, soaked it, and stuck it to a glass lapping plate from Lee Valley. The crack is now gone, and I'm left with LOTS of blade to use.

I followed Glenn's video steps religiously. I made a slurry with the artificial Nagura, and then did 25 circles both sides. I was really trying to 'feel the bevel' (is that a correct term??) feeling for the bevel to smooth out. Then the same pattern of straight strokes up and down, then x-strokes. I followed the pyramid as described in Glen's video. I think I spent a bit more time on the 4k than shown in the video, and extra strokes on the 8K.

I used the Genco today. With a 2-day growth of beard, the razor performed beautifully. I have a Dovo Best from SRD honed by Lynn, and a Boker honed by Glenn to compare to. In all honesty, I think I may have the Genco at at around 65 to 70% of the edges these artisans have produced. Not perfect, but usable. I'll give the Morley a try tomorrow morning.

In the past I have been very very nervous about honing, but the videos by Glenn on Youtube have been so helpful, and the tips here are excellent. I am confident that it will only get better from here on.

I have two more razors arriving this week - a Dubl Duck Wonderedge and another Genco. The Genco is in a bit of a rough state, but I am looking forward to cleaning it up and hitting the Norton with both razors. The tips I have picked up here are excellent, and I am sure that I can get both of these blades into great shape.

Barry

Re-honed the W&B. This time I lapped the hone on 600 wet and dry sandpaper taped to a glass topped table (again using a grid). Yet again I found it wasn't flat. Is that normal? How much does a hone 'go out' by from one razor sharpening? Next time I'll again use the wet and dry so I can rule out the difference between the lapping stone and the wet and dry and table.

I used a magic marker pen (Texta) this time to help with checking the edge. After 60 circles both sides on 4k I found one side of the heel needed work again. Did 60 more circles, concentrating on that area. Did 40 x strokes mod pressure, did TNT, wasn't happy, did another 40 mod, did TNT, passed, did 20 lt pressure 4k (to bring it back after the TNT), 40 8k mod, 20 lt 4, 20 lt 8. I then did the TPT and didn't really like what I felt; the heel wasn't sharp. Basically repeated all of the above. After that I was happier but also getting confused with what I was actually doing; I realised I'd written down a pyramid wrong and decided to dig out the one I was sent by the first guy I ever talked to honing about from here and did that. I think I need to decide on a method and stick to it for a while. I'm thinking circles until I'm happy with the bevel, then may do a TNT after 40 x strokes mod pressure & 40 lt (4k) (or should I do a TNT later, or earlier?), then 40 lt again after TNT, 40 8k mod 40 8k lt, pyramid. The pyramid I used was 20 4, 5 8, 15 4, 5 8, 10 4, 5 8, 5 4, 5 8, 3 4, 5 8, 2 4, 5 8, 1 4, 5 8.

Carl....are you doing a TNT (thumb nail test) throughout the honing process? The thumb nail will kill a shave ready edge.

ONLY use the thumbnail test until the bevel is completely set. After the bevel is set, use the THUMB PAD TEST.....where you use your thumb pad to feel the edge as it gets closer to shave ready.

I'm confused, and I've had a bit of wine....so I may be reading your post wrong too!