Thread: Pitted Norton 4000 water stone

I've recently purchased one Norton 4000/8000 water stones and after a series of flattening (600 grit wet-dry sand paper) and honing attempts, I've noticed a couple of things.

1) when you look at the stone dry and on an angle there are tiny pits into surface of the 4000 grit. They are less than a hairs thickness deep and wide, but they are all over.

2) both side of the stones have areas that you can feel 'bumps' which honing. As you are honing you can feel the metal being cut and then all of a sudden it feels like there is bump that slightly lifts the blade off the stone and pivots it around the bump at the same time.

I exchanged the first Norton for a second and I have noticed the same thing on the second.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this, either 1) or 2) (or even both).

Thanks,

Mark

Originally Posted by 0o.Mark.o0

2) both side of the stones have areas that you can feel 'bumps' which honing. As you are honing you can feel the metal being cut and then all of a sudden it feels like there is bump that slightly lifts the blade off the stone and pivots it around the bump at the same time.

I don't know what's causing the pits, but this particular issue makes it sound like you've still got grit from the sandpaper embedded in your hone.

Mark the first Norton I bought (online) had the same thing on the 8000 side, I couldn't get it bump-less. I sent it back to Norton and they replaced it, the new one is fine.

Try lapping it a bit more with a more aggressive paper before going to the 600, use plenty of water. If you can't get it smoothed out take it back.

Miles

Mark,

I had a lot of trouble with my first Norton. Search "norton" and "pits," and also "Norton shredding edge." (I can't figure out how to insert a link; when I search, I end up with the search URL instead of the thread URL... )

I got a replacement, and everything worked great. I love my Norton now.

It sounds to me like something you're doing is causing the problem. What type of sandpaper are you lapping with? Give us more detail about your lapping attempts.

Good luck,
Josh

Originally Posted by 0o.Mark.o0

I've recently purchased one Norton 4000/8000 water stones and after a series of flattening (600 grit wet-dry sand paper) and honing attempts, I've noticed a couple of things.

1) when you look at the stone dry and on an angle there are tiny pits into surface of the 4000 grit. They are less than a hairs thickness deep and wide, but they are all over.

2) both side of the stones have areas that you can feel 'bumps' which honing. As you are honing you can feel the metal being cut and then all of a sudden it feels like there is bump that slightly lifts the blade off the stone and pivots it around the bump at the same time.

I exchanged the first Norton for a second and I have noticed the same thing on the second.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this, either 1) or 2) (or even both).

Thanks,

Mark

I found that link,

HTML Code:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=7307&highlight=pits

It sounds like we had the same problem. I'll try taking it back.

As for lapping, I would grind away on a flat surface until it looked like I poured cream onto the sandpaper (400 then 600 grit).

Mark

Are you storing the stones in water? If so, don't. Just soak them for about 5 - 10 minutes and then use them.