Thread: Norton vs Belgian blue

I was wondering how my Belgian blue compares to the Norton 4K/8K.
Would it make sense to buy a Norton (or equivalent 4/8) in addition to my Yellow/Blue stone?

I am happy with my stone, but it is very slow.
Perhaps it would be worth the investment for quicker honing?

I have heard the blue functions like a 4k, more or less. So it would seem you don't need a Norton

The Belgian blue is just a slow cutter. I'd use the Norton to get the blade shave ready and polish it off with a few strokes on the yellow. Blue makes a nice surface for it to stand on

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

The Belgian blue is just a slow cutter. I'd use the Norton to get the blade shave ready and polish it off with a few strokes on the yellow. Blue makes a nice surface for it to stand on

Would it make a difference if the 4/8 is not a Norton?
I would assume that 4/8 is 4/8, regardless of brand, but I am not sure.

If the grits are comparable (a big "if" lol) then it won't make a difference. The reason I like Norton so much is because it cuts quickly and gets my edges up to snuff in no time, which is more than I could say about some other 4/8 abrasives I've used.

I have the blue and I have to tell you it is a very slow cutter. I think it cuts with more finesse than the Norton 4K but I also think the Blue is more like a 6K. If you have the Norton the Blue is probably not necessary, just another part of your honing arsenal.

I do find there are some razors that just seem to prefer certain hones over others.

The Blue has been advertised as a 4K and I agree that it's probably more on the line of 6K or so. The Yellow has been advertised as an 8K, but it works more on the 10-12K or so level. I use the Norton and the go to the Yellow and have found the need for pastes to be less. Different razors take to different stones, grits and pastes, so having a few stones to experiment with is a good ting.

Have fun.

Lynn

Thanks for all the advice so far.
I'll add the norton to my arsenal. It seems like a good idea. Especially once I get a few ebay razors to practise on. Using only the blue and yellow would take too much time to be practical I feel.

Does it make slurry by itself, like the yellow and blue stones?

No. You need a rubbing stone (usually a small piece of another coticule) but they usually come with the coticule (not in my case).

The Norton does not make a slurry by itself. Get a Nagura stone for that or you can use the blue side of the Belgian for a slurry stone on the 4K Norton and use the yellow side of the Belgian as a slurry stone for the Norton 8K.

BTW, the blue side of the belgian cuts much faster if there is a slurry developed.

Hope this helps,