Great deal on new Norton 4k/8k stones at Lee Valley

[rambus007]

I was at Lee Valley today and found a good deal on Norton 4k/8k combo stones. I got a new stone for $55 + 12% HST = $66. The stone has a little bit of staining which doesn't bother me. I believe the regular price is $79 before taxes. In case anyone lives in Vancouver, these marked down hones are at the back of the Marine Drive store. They has about 6 more on the table and they all have either stains or nicks.

So here is my question. Should I lap this stone before using it my first time? Thank you.

 

[livingontheedge]

I would recomend lapping and rounding the corners and edges before use.

 

[Disburden]

Not only lap and round the corners but also lap it about three times on each side before using it. You need to remove some surface on the norton before you use it for razors, the outter layer is rough and scratchy.
As a general rule though you should assume always that a stone you just received needs to be lapped.


Also these go for 65.00 new on some sites I've seen.

 

[rambus007]

Thank you.

 

[Wid]

My Norton 4K/8K did take some time lapping before it felt really smooth. I must have lapped it at least 4 times. Also I went from the Norton flatting stone to 600 grit (on glass) to 1500 grit, again on glass, before it felt like what I figured it should have.

 

[rambus007]

I am using 320 grit wet/dry Norton lapping paper which I got from Lee Valley. I sprayed it wet and placed it on my glass kitchen table. Then I took a pencil and draw grid lines on the bottom to ensure I was lapping evenly. Then I did about 10-15 scrapes. The bottom feels really smooth now so I think I'm ready for honing. Fortunately the corners and edges were already chamfered.

 

[Disburden]

I am using 320 grit wet/dry Norton lapping paper which I got from Lee Valley. I sprayed it wet and placed it on my glass kitchen table. Then I took a pencil and draw grid lines on the bottom to ensure I was lapping evenly. Then I did about 10-15 scrapes. The bottom feels really smooth now so I think I'm ready for honing. Fortunately the corners and edges were already chamfered.

The 4K side is smooth? That's the important one.

 

[LooseNuts]

sweet. i was just looking at those hones on their website. ill go tomorrow after work and check them out.

thanks for the tip

 

[Walker]

I am using 320 grit wet/dry Norton lapping paper which I got from Lee Valley. I sprayed it wet and placed it on my glass kitchen table. Then I took a pencil and draw grid lines on the bottom to ensure I was lapping evenly. Then I did about 10-15 scrapes. The bottom feels really smooth now so I think I'm ready for honing. Fortunately the corners and edges were already chamfered.

The corners on my 4k/8k were also chamfered by Norton. The way that works for me is i mark the hone with a pencil, lap on 120 grit sandpaper, reapply the pencil marks and lap again, if it really is flat the marks will be off the hone in a couple of strokes, mark again and lap on 320 grit sandpaper, apply the marks one last time and finish on 600 grit sandpaper. I would go to a higher grit but my Lowes doesn't have a higher grit sandpaper than the 600

 

[rambus007]

Oh I didn't think about lapping on a higher grit. However the razors that I have honed thus far have been great. I will remember this for the next round of lapping. Thanks for the tip Walker.

 

[Walker]

Oh I didn't think about lapping on a higher grit. However the razors that I have honed thus far have been great. I will remember this for the next round of lapping. Thanks for the tip Walker.

It's not a must. A lot of people just use a DMT Course DiaSharp for there lapping needs. The higher grits is just something i read about on here for lapping a stone. Seems like every style is different with honing.

 

[danjared]

It's not a must. A lot of people just use a DMT Course DiaSharp for there lapping needs. The higher grits is just something i read about on here for lapping a stone. Seems like every style is different with honing.

It's crucial on certain hones, whose finish relies almost exclusively on the surface texture. I'm thinking of novaculite and Spyderco hones, mainly. There are some others. But for the most part, lapping with such fine grits should not matter.

 

[hometownhero]

I wish they had nortons for sale here I would have waited. Mine needed a lot of lapping when I got it. There was a nice low spot on the one corner of the 8k side about the size of a loonie.

 

[Walker]

I wish they had nortons for sale here I would have waited. Mine needed a lot of lapping when I got it. There was a nice low spot on the one corner of the 8k side about the size of a loonie.

Love the Avatar. I went and seen them on this summers Uproar Festival.

 

[kg4ghn]

Love the Avatar. I went and seen them on this summers Uproar Festival.

Me too. Put on the best show of any band there, better than Disturbed who I bought the tickets for.


/endThreadHighjack

 

[Walker]

Me too. Put on the best show of any band there, better than Disturbed who I bought the tickets for.


/endThreadHighjack

I couldn't belive how disappointing Disturbed was. I saw the show in Manassas/Washington D.C. and i ended up leaving about 3 songs into Disturbed. Corey Taylor from Stone Sour said it was like there 4th or 5th show in a row but everybody else did great except for Disturded. It sounded like his voice was giving out. But Avenged Sevenfold blew everyone away IMO. Can't wait to see them again. Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater so maybe he will stick it out with Sevenfold.....

 

[hometownhero]

Me too. Put on the best show of any band there, better than Disturbed who I bought the tickets for.


/endThreadHighjack

That is because they ARE the BEST band ever. Mike is not the Rev but he does an alright job. Some of the drumming in some songs is a little to fast for him lol. I have seen them twice and am so glad I got to see them with Jimmy(rip) They were sick on uproar. Fireworks and pyro indoors is the best lol.

 

[Brush_with_Fame]

...but can they lap a 4k?