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

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