Thread: Honing on the Norton

Yesterday I tried a pyramid with the Norton 4K and the Belgian blue. My 4/8 has not yet arrived.

I lapped the 4K on 1000 grit wet paper. The white stone is now stained red, but I assume that doesn't matter.

My question: how sharp is a blade supposed to be from the 4K alone?
It kept pulling on my arm hair, and it wouldn't do HHT at all.

After 2 pyramids (from 7 - 1 to 1 - 7) I did 20 laps on the yellow, and only then I noticed significant improvements.

I used a piece of coticule for raising a slurry, but it was not very thick. I don't know if that has something to do with it or not.

Bruno,

I don't try to raise a slurry on my 4K, but there are others who do.

I find that I'm able to get a razor to pass the HHT off the 4K. I don't move on to higher grits until it's passing all along the length of the blade. With an eBay razor, I'll start on the 1K stone and restore the bevel, then do 30 to 50 laps on the 4K, with decreasing pressure. The last five laps are with very light pressure. Usually after this I have to do some extra circles on the toe or heel to get them equally sharp.

Failing to get the razor sharp enough at this stage is almost always the reason I have trouble with a blade.

Good luck,
Josh

Originally Posted by Bruno

I lapped the 4K on 1000 grit wet paper. The white stone is now stained red, but I assume that doesn't matter.

This might matter a great deal. I bought some 800 sand paper listed as wet paper and it did the same thing which made it impossible for me to achieve the proper edge. The staining you see is likely grit residue from the 1k paper and means you've got 1k in your 4k which are not two great tastes that Taste great together. I highly recommend you get a higher quality automotive wet/dry paper and lap it again. Chances are you will be stymied until then and learn nothing except not to make that mistake again.

X

I assume that HandAmerican's sandpapers are considered high quality yes?

It seems odd that the paper stained the stone red. I've always used black 3M brand automotive wet-dry sandpaper, and it never left any trace of color on my stone.

Norton sandpaper is good, too. I don't know about HandAmerican, but I would imagine that it's high quality.

I haven't found that the grit size of the sandpaper matters much with the 4K side. I've used everything from 220 to 1200, and I like the 400 to 800 range the best. My most recent lapping was with 400 grit, and it is working very nicely right now.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

It seems odd that the paper stained the stone red. I've always used black 3M brand automotive wet-dry sandpaper, and it never left any trace of color on my stone.

Well, the paper is red. It's called siawat, and made in Switzerland. Our local hardware store carries it.
It's a quality store that gets visited by all professional carpenters, masons etc, so I am reasonably confident that that it's good stuff.

I think it's worth pointing out some of my mistakes to keep you from them yourself. One thing not mentioned in that article is how I stained my stone with that cheap "wet" sandpaper I got from a local hardeware store. Trust me ... relap your hone with better paper.

X

Originally Posted by Bruno

Well, the paper is red. It's called siawat, and made in Switzerland. Our local hardware store carries it.
It's a quality store that gets visited by all professional carpenters, masons etc, so I am reasonably confident that that it's good stuff.

That is not a wet sandpaper. It should not stain anything, and regular red sandpaper, the kind for sanding wood is often dissolving in water, and releasing red paint...

Nenad

Red paint is made from mineral oxides. Those are now embedded in your hone. They have to be removed before it will cut properly. Go get some 3M 220 grit automotive wet/dry sandpaper and lap your hone until the red is gone. Then rinse it under running water and rub the hone with your hand to remove any embedded grit. Then lap again with a higher grit like 800 or 1000. Rinse and rub again.

Good call guys!

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Red paint is made from mineral oxides. Those are now embedded in your hone. They have to be removed before it will cut properly. Go get some 3M 220 grit automotive wet/dry sandpaper and lap your hone until the red is gone. Then rinse it under running water and rub the hone with your hand to remove any embedded grit. Then lap again with a higher grit like 800 or 1000. Rinse and rub again.

Good call guys!

Damn.
And to think I trusted the guy behond the counter.
Is there an online store for buying 3M paper?
Because sure as hell I don't find it at any of my usual hardware stores.