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

Originally Posted by jdto

I picked up an Artificial "Nagura" Stone from Lee Valley, which I'd intended to use to raise the slurry on my 4k/8k.

Is this in line with JaNortan specifications? I see you state we should not use a special nagura. Hopefully, this evening will allow me enough free time for honing.

That Lee Valley one or others like it, is NOT a special Nagura, it is basically an unbranded Norton Prep stone, what I meant in the rules was using Nagura such the Japanese ones (Botan, Tenjyou, Mejiro and Koma) that are designed to create different cutting solutions or say using a Coticule on the 8k or a Escher Slurry stone...

Dudes, we're only three days into this, and now I firmly believe in: "If you can't shave comfortably off a Norton 4/8k, you suck at honing!"

Now joking aside, this is incredibly fun.

JaNorton Shave #3 went very well. Dovo Best again (I didn't bring the WB to the cottage, b/c I would have needed to bring the stone too...)

Anyway. Nice and smooth, two passes. No discomfort or irritation.

2nd Shave

Razor : 7/8" W&B chopper

Method :

Just for the heck of it, I did 5 sweeping X-strokes on the N4k.

I then went to the N8k with just water. Using only the weight of the blade, I did 10 sweeping X-strokes again, then rinsed the hone, and did 5 more in a stropping manner (spine leading) followed by 1 sweeping X-stroke.

I then stropped 40x on my homemade denim cloth strop, followed by 40x on my homemade cowhide leather strop.

Shave : I did my usual 2 pass shave (WTG, XTG), following the same prep procedures I always do. The shave was fairly comfortable, and ended up fairly smooth, very similar to shave #1. Again, I will try something a little different next time and see what happens.

First shave of the new year is in. My weapons of choice...

Since I had about 8 days of unshaved growth, I went with the wedge. Not as smooth as I had hoped. first weepers I have had in a while. Likely due to my putting a bit more pressure into the shave to power through the growth. It held up fairly well to the heavy whacking that was required. The Robeson is on deck now, and will not have to deal with anything more than 2 days stubble. (my normal time between shaves)

Shaved w/ the Berg this morning--very good, very comfortable shave. I purposely went a little light on the trouble spots on my neck as the 2nd day of shaving after taking a break is always an opportunity for irritation. There was none, though. I'll say it again: the Norton, properly used, is perfectly capable of giving a good shave! If that doesn't happen for some reason, it's either a weird razor, or it's the honer.

Originally Posted by Blix

Dudes, we're only three days into this, and now I firmly believe in: "If you can't shave comfortably off a Norton 4/8k, you suck at honing!"

Now joking aside, this is incredibly fun.

Where is the joke?

Took my second shave this morning. just to make sure it was no fluke. I did add 5 more laps on my 8k. the shave was exactly the same. still very smooth and very forgiving edge . Very similar if not just like a nice natural stone can deliver. Is the 8k manmade or is a natural substance? seems like my edge is pritty maxed out, I may try as lyn says 1, 5 pyramid. Just for curiosity. I never thought i would like the edge of nortons . It seems like my ti steel is very well suited to the norton s. the other thing is i have a sub par hht. every one talks about hht. I use it with coticules and it works. It seems not to be the case with the 4k/8k. i can pass hht desently but not like usaul. yet the shave is as good and defanatley as comfortable.

regards gary

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Where is the joke?

10char

Originally Posted by Blix

Dudes, we're only three days into this, and now I firmly believe in: "If you can't shave comfortably off a Norton 4/8k, you suck at honing!"

Now joking aside, this is incredibly fun.

I'd have to agree, and I'm REALLY new to honing, anyone want a Shapton 16k? ;-)