Norton Stones - Need to be lapped?

**The Mick** · 05-14-2012, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by k2clones29

With the Norton's, does their flattening stone do a good job of lapping them?

From my experience no! But then my Norton stones were so uneven I gave up on them after 3 hours of lapping the 8k.

**strop** · 05-14-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by The Mick

From my experience no! But then my Norton stones were so uneven I gave up on them after 3 hours of lapping the 8k.

What were you using to lap them? I have a granite surface plate and some 220 sandpaper. Takes me all of 30 seconds to make them flat. Something just doesn't fit, here.

**The Mick** · 05-14-2012, 03:43 PM

the stones were so bad they were 1/4" low in the corners. Both sets of combo's were that way on one side. 220 side pretty flat 1K side low corners same with the 4k 8k stone. Had they not sat around for months before I got to them I would have returned them and not messed with them at all. Poor quality control.

**The Mick** · 05-14-2012, 04:25 PM

This is after 3 hours with a few short breaks.

**Slash McCoy** · 05-14-2012, 04:25 PM

A DMT works great for lapping a hone. However, a sheet of wet/dry offers a bigger surface. Plus it is cheaper.

Speaking of cheaper, does the idea of putting a complete honing kit together for $20 or so appeal to you? Or the availability of say a 2-3/4" or 4-1/4" x 11-1/2" honing surface instead of considerably smaller? Never ever having to lap a stone again? Reduced weight and bulk? Never having to soak a stone? Then consider lapping film. It is easy and gives killer results.

**strop** · 05-14-2012, 04:58 PM

I notice that you are using the Norton flattening stone. Have you placed a straight edge on the stone? Is it really that far out? Check the flattening stone with a straight edge. Most of the advice I see on the woodworking forums is to avoid the flattening stone. They may not be flat to start with and don't always stay flat!

If indeed the stones are that far off, they should have never been shipped out!

**The Mick** · 05-14-2012, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by strop

I notice that you are using the Norton flattening stone. Have you placed a straight edge on the stone? Is it really that far out? Check the flattening stone with a straight edge. Most of the advice I see on the woodworking forums is to avoid the flattening stone. They may not be flat to start with and don't always stay flat!

If indeed the stones are that far off, they should have never been shipped out!

The lapping stone was the only one that was flat. and I should have checked them out before putting them away for later use that's on me.

Originally Posted by Slash McCoy

A DMT works great for lapping a hone. However, a sheet of wet/dry offers a bigger surface. Plus it is cheaper.

Speaking of cheaper, does the idea of putting a complete honing kit together for $20 or so appeal to you? Or the availability of say a 2-3/4" or 4-1/4" x 11-1/2" honing surface instead of considerably smaller? Never ever having to lap a stone again? Reduced weight and bulk? Never having to soak a stone? Then consider lapping film. It is easy and gives killer results.

This is the rout I took after the stone problem. And so far I am pleased with how they have worked out.