So a bit over a year ago I bought the (seemingly out of fashion) Norton 4/8k because I had a few Rolls Razor blades I wanted to restore and see if I could get it shave ready. I wasn't sure if this was something I wanted to stick with though so opted for the wallet friendly stone. I also picked up a Naniwa 12k at the time after getting edges on my Rolls blades and having fun with the process. Since then I've gotten into straight razors and I put my own edges on them.
Current progression- Chosera 1k- Norton combo- Naniwa 12k- Coticule
I've been very happy with the stone until recently. My last few honing sessions I've noticed that the 4k side has been killing my edges, and I didn't have that problem in the past. I do lap it often and round off the sides with my Atoma 400 and check for flatness with a straight edge. The stone feels a lot grittier than normal perhaps 10-20 laps after lapping and under my little 60x-120x it really does a number on the edge. I've put in quite a few hours with the stone and I feel like I know it quite well, so this grittiness has been a bit peculiar and perplexing. I'm pretty OCD about grit cross-contamination and I do understand that this could be causing the issue, but I try to be very careful about that. I soak the stone adequately and I keep my Atoma 400 clean. It could very well be a technique issue and I fully understand that, but I'm starting to think that I've hit a weird layer in the stone or perhaps it's starting to have issues with the binding or whatever you call it.
The other day I tested a progression where I go straight from the Chosera 1k to the 8k side and was able to get an edge I was satisfied with (after finishing it further of course) and it did not seem to take THAT much extra time, but I would like to avoid having to do that. I just got so fed up with the 4k I just skipped it all together haha.
Honing is something I want to keep doing and I'm having a lot of fun learning and experimenting, so I can justify upgrading from the Norton 4k side and would like suggestions on how to go about it. I was thinking about perhaps a Shapton 3k? Maybe one of the glass stones? I'm aware of the difference in grit rating and would like input from someone with a lot more experience than my novice self has. I've put in some research but I would like to hear it from you.
Also, I'd like to keep using the Norton 8k because I like how it feels, but I know that in terms of the Japanese grit rating it's closer to ~5k? Correct me if I'm wrong. Lately I've been going from the 8k side to my Naniwa 12k, and then taming it a bit with my Coticule. I do feel like I can "skip" having a proper 8k between the 12k because I have no current complaints with my edges, but if anybody has any food for thought for me regarding getting a proper 8k stone such as the Shapton to add to my progression please let me know.
I am working on getting better at utilizing my Coti with slurry dilutions, but I'd like to stick with synths for now and using it as a finisher.
Thank you! If you need any clarification about my writeup please let me know as I'm feeling pretty burned out.
-Kyle
Current progression- Chosera 1k- Norton combo- Naniwa 12k- Coticule
I've been very happy with the stone until recently. My last few honing sessions I've noticed that the 4k side has been killing my edges, and I didn't have that problem in the past. I do lap it often and round off the sides with my Atoma 400 and check for flatness with a straight edge. The stone feels a lot grittier than normal perhaps 10-20 laps after lapping and under my little 60x-120x it really does a number on the edge. I've put in quite a few hours with the stone and I feel like I know it quite well, so this grittiness has been a bit peculiar and perplexing. I'm pretty OCD about grit cross-contamination and I do understand that this could be causing the issue, but I try to be very careful about that. I soak the stone adequately and I keep my Atoma 400 clean. It could very well be a technique issue and I fully understand that, but I'm starting to think that I've hit a weird layer in the stone or perhaps it's starting to have issues with the binding or whatever you call it.
The other day I tested a progression where I go straight from the Chosera 1k to the 8k side and was able to get an edge I was satisfied with (after finishing it further of course) and it did not seem to take THAT much extra time, but I would like to avoid having to do that. I just got so fed up with the 4k I just skipped it all together haha.
Honing is something I want to keep doing and I'm having a lot of fun learning and experimenting, so I can justify upgrading from the Norton 4k side and would like suggestions on how to go about it. I was thinking about perhaps a Shapton 3k? Maybe one of the glass stones? I'm aware of the difference in grit rating and would like input from someone with a lot more experience than my novice self has. I've put in some research but I would like to hear it from you.
Also, I'd like to keep using the Norton 8k because I like how it feels, but I know that in terms of the Japanese grit rating it's closer to ~5k? Correct me if I'm wrong. Lately I've been going from the 8k side to my Naniwa 12k, and then taming it a bit with my Coticule. I do feel like I can "skip" having a proper 8k between the 12k because I have no current complaints with my edges, but if anybody has any food for thought for me regarding getting a proper 8k stone such as the Shapton to add to my progression please let me know.
I am working on getting better at utilizing my Coti with slurry dilutions, but I'd like to stick with synths for now and using it as a finisher.
Thank you! If you need any clarification about my writeup please let me know as I'm feeling pretty burned out.
-Kyle