Tonight's Honing Escapade

[edders]

Finally got time to try honing again today. I just got a DMT coarse to flatten my stones, a Chinese 12k and a 4/8k Norton (that changed quickly).

So, I soak the stones to be flattened. During the soaking the Norton decides it will be a good idea to split in to two stones. So I now have a 4K and an 8K!. The thing is almost brand new. I'm pissed. Is this normal? I still flatten them then do the 12K. That one took a long time.

So, on to the honing. I start with my Wapi. Do what i saw on my DVD and then give it a strop. The handle comes off my strop. Fortunately it is old and cheap so i don't care too much. Test the Wapi and it SUCKS. I then realise that with the stones splitting I got it mixed up and used the 8K first!

So I try another couple and never really made any progress. I think my technique sucks, as do my stones and strop now. To ease the tension I decide I'll smooth out the other side of the 12K, just to pass the time. 45 minutes later it is done and soaked fingers are wrinkled like a used condom!

I'll have a DE shave tonight, again.

Oh, and did I mention my sound card on my Ultra Portable PC decided it doesn't want to work either?

[mparker762]

Some days it just doesn't pay to get up.

And no, it's not normal for a norton to split like that - contact your source and see about returning it.

[edders]

I'll check my email, see if i have any communication with the guy I bought it from.

[joel]

Yet another reason to use the DMT D8EE instead of a Norton 4/8K

[ouch]

Put it this way- if you manage to snap a DMT plate in half, I'm not shaking hands with you.

[gglockner]

Think of it like you just invested in the best guitar and amp money can buy, but you still suck. It takes a ton of practice to get a razor to shave well. Some do get lucky, but most of us spend a fair amount of time to get good results. Great shavers take even longer.

Glen

[edders]

Yet another reason to use the DMT D8EE instead of a Norton 4/8K

I have been thinking about it but the problem is that's another step before I have even stepped on the first rung with my current set up. And sure enough, once I pony up for a DMT someone will point out the sharpening qualities of a hitherto unknown stone found in the higher altitudes of the Himalayas.

[Belegnole]

I couldn't place my source, but I know I heard somewhere that the Nortons can come apart when they soak for too long. Why a hone that needs to be soaked uses a glue that seems to be soluble is beyond me.

[AFDavis11]

Oh, and did I mention my sound card on my Ultra Portable PC decided it doesn't want to work either?

Thats probably the fault of the Norton too.

[ouch]

I have been thinking about it but the problem is that's another step before I have even stepped on the first rung with my current set up. And sure enough, once I pony up for a DMT someone will point out the sharpening qualities of a hitherto unknown stone found in the higher altitudes of the Himalayas.

Good point. I think it's best to keep the variables at a minimum at the beginning, as it's going to take some trial and error before you start to get decent results.

[edders]

I couldn't place my source, but I know I heard somewhere that the Nortons can come apart when they soak for too long. Why a hone that needs to be soaked uses a glue that seems to be soluble is beyond me.

This was only its 3rd soak. I don't store it water for exactly this reason. Looking at the glue...there is more on a postage stamp..a small one.

I already emailed Norton to see what they say. It has been 12 hours since I sent it in and nothing! OUTRAGEOUS!

[JohnP]

I have this hone...
It is the only hone you will ever need, trouble is there are perhaps 5 like it in the world, molded by slaves to the last emperor of China after which the molds were broken except for one, which was hidden in a remote section of the Himalayas.....
Keep at it. You'll get it soon enough.

John P.

[2Sharp]

You could save the postage and time without the stone by gluing it back together with epoxy.

bj