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

Okay, here is an update of what I've learned so far on this experiment the first two razors that I used. I don't remember their names shave very well. So the other day yesterday to be exact. I dug around and found an old Puma, a DHL, and another German blade. Starting with the 4K, I gave 20 circles medium pressure both sides, clean the stone. Another 20 medium pressure clean the stone, all the while noticing how much swarf came off, by the third set of 20 I noticed very little swarf, by the way the first two sets of 20 were done with slurry made with A DMT. the last set done on a clean stone with just water. In between the sets of circles. I gave each razor about 10 to 12 X strokes both sides of the stone. This method gave me exceptionally sharp edges at which point I switched to the 8K as I'm really not sure that you have to take two steps forward and one step back. As in the pyramid method, although I have used it and it does work. This way, I'm pretty sure that I'm getting all that I can from each grit so there's no need to take that one step back. On the 8K basically the same method 20 circles, followed by 10 X strokes, three sets of circles starting with medium pressure working my way to no pressure. While doing this I was also careful to notice the amount of swarf coming off the blades, and cleaning the stone between each set of circles when I was done doing this. The hair jumped off my arm at the slightest touch. Then it was onto the strop. I gave each one. 75 on the linen and 100 on the leather. This produced edges that I would've never believed could come off the 8K, especially with the old puma, which no matter what I did was not great. As a matter of fact, I was wondering how they got their reputation as most of my blades don't give me the problem that this did. Well, the results of all this work, which really didn't take long, (which was really suprising) is that the puma and a DHL are sharp as they've ever been, I shaved with the puma tonight. It was great. Better even than my new puma, which is a very good blade although it took a while to dial in. Tomorrow I'm looking forward to trying to DHL.The last blade,the German one of unknown origin did not come out great and needs some more attention which I will give it as soon as possible. I think the best part of this experiment is that it got me to slow down and really try and get the most that each grit had to offer, in doing so I've gotten blades that are much sharper than I would've imagined coming off an 8K the shaves are incredibly comfortable and if this is all I had to use, I'd be very happy with it. I can't wait to see what improvement comes from my finishing stones which consist of two Coticules , one a quick cutter, and one much finer and slower and the others being Thuringian and the last being a C12K, which is very hard very smooth and I would say rates is a very, very high grit cutter. So that's the results so far and actually I think the best thing about this whole experiment is that it's getting everybody to treat their stones with a much lighter hand and getting the most out of them. IMHO.
Also thanks Glenn for starting this whole thing and getting me and I'm sure a lot of other to remember it's not rocket science.
It's practice.

Ooook, back on track. Had to to a quick shave today, so I grabbed the Gotta which had a nice Thuri edge yesterday, which I took down to 8k again.
Sure the thuri edge is nicer, but the difference is minimal, another good Norton shave!

Well, I haven't shaved much this month - at this point consider me more of an ancillary participant.

I did spend some time tonight with the Norton 4/8 and one of my best shavers - a 4/8 Bengall.

I started by doing lots of circles and X's on the 4k to wipe away the prior edge. Most of my experimenting was with the 8K and stropping.
I took pictures with the microscope as I went - I didn't realize as I was taking them, that several were a little blurry.

My observations from this session, based on the microscope:
It doesn't take a whole lot of strokes with the 8K before it was a matter of diminishing returns
With a light touch a lot of strokes on the 8K didn't cause harm
Stropping makes a big difference
Stropping with linen makes a difference

The razor is passing all of my pre-shave tests. I will be shaving with it momentarily - stay tuned!

I just finished my shave with this razor. It was smooth and comfortable - I could definitely tell a difference between the edge now, and what it would be like with a finisher and paste, but I could definitely use it every day.

I will play with it some more and see if I can eek a little bit extra out of it.

Uploading a new JaNorton Vid tonight, we have a Winter storm watch right now so the Satt is running pretty slow with the snow, hopefully it will finish uploading...

Confirmed through my microscope, I literally had to chisel a large diamond off my new DMT 325--kept getting scratches in the same place on the Norton, regardless of the orientation.
Then I took the flat side of a screwdriver shank and ran it back and fourth over the DMT about 40 times, fixed now, smooth lap.
The worn in DMT now has a matte appearance over most of its surface. But sparkles like the ocean at sunset under the scope.
Don't be afraid to get rough with the new diamond hones, they can take it.

Seriously if you guys want to eek a little extra off the Norton 8k hone with some lather when finishing. I might just have to try it myself.

Ok. I'm bored, the Gotta and Globusmen both delivers great Norton shaves day out and day in, so I invited a Japanese friend along to the Norton party.
It's an unloved $36 eBay special with warped scales and spotty steel. A 6/8 Japanese frameback.
I have honed it a couple times, but wasn't really into it. And that little bugger has some pretty hard steel going as well, so I struggled a bit with the previous attempts.
It's been a few months since I honed it and my honing is better now, so it was time

Honed it pretty much like before:

About 40 circles with slurry on the 4k side, then 20-25 circles with medium pressure.
5 regular,
5 x-strokes
5 regular
TNT
5 regular.

The blade isn't 100% straight so I have to use a slight rolling stroke with it.

8k

5 regular
5 x-strokes
5 regular.

Pyramid

10 8k
5 4k
7 8k
3 4k
5 8k

Change tape, clean off the 8k and finishing yet again with the 20 laps to "dry"

50/100 on Illinois #827 and it was good to go.

Shaved really nice. Now these framebacks have a very stiff feel being super "hollow" , yet that super hard steel edge, so they doesn't feel as smooth to me as a flexible singer like the Gotta, but I sure got a equally good shave.


By blix72 at 2012-01-19

I've now gotten a couple shaves off the Clauss. It's performing spectacularly. I think I could get it a little bit sharper (and I may have to try that neat lather trick), but I'm not feeling any real lack.

I also did some tweaking on the Greaves. It's really comfortable and fast, but isn't cutting quite as well as I think it should.

Now I'm seeing a really direct correlation between how consistent my strokes on the hone are and how good an edge I get. The Clauss, being really good and flat is easy to get consistent strokes on. The Greaves, being a big old cheerful wedge requires that I manipulate the pressure along the length.

I am really learning a lot with this, and it's boosted my confidence with honing so much.

I am a little late to the party on this one, but started yesterday.

I am not very exact when I hone( stroke count), I just move on when I think I am ready.

I used a vintage VOOGD razor. I have had this razor for a while, but for some reason have only used it a few times and never really got it "Dialed in". So this was a bit of an extra challenge, I have no idea how good this razor can be.

I started out by dulling on glass. Then I built aslurry on my 4k using a DMT Credit Card size. I did a mixture of circles, back forth strokes, normal strokes until I felt the bevel was set. Then I diluted down to water and cleaned off the hone and razor.

Once there I did a set of medium pressure circles, set of light pressure circles, then I forget how many x strokes. I want to say I did 20, then flipped the stone and did 20 more.

I ended up experimenting a bit more on the 8k. I built a slurry on it and diluted down to water. Then I cleaned razor/hone, did an addition 10 x strokes.

After stropping on linen and leather, razor passed HHT no problem(although this is not a reliable shave ready test for me, just fun).

Shave ended up being awesome to the max. 10 hours later and still pretty smooth. I feel like I have not maxed out the 8k edge yet though. I forgot about the "Hone to dry" method to get that last little bit. Will try that tonight.

I think I might use my Friodur for the other razor. It is a known good shaver, but one that also takes a bit more on the hones.