Thread: Question ???? Norton Prep Stone use

Was just wondering how many actually use this stone, whether on their Norton's, or on other stones???
The other question is how do you use it, if you do????

I use the Nortorn prep stone because the Norton flattening stone leaves a rather rough surface and the prep stone smooths it out.

Isn't the purpose of the prep stone (I had noticed it at Howard's too) to create a slurry like a Nagura stone? Shows what I know! Learn something new every day!

Mark

I have used it primarily on the 4k but I don't make a habit of it. I assumed it to be used like a nagura and I think it might improve cutting slightly but it might just be power of suggestion. Most of the time if I want a slurry or want to just lightly lap my nortons, I take advantage of the fact that I have two each of the 1K, 4K, and 8K and just rub the two identical hones together. I don't use the prep stone very often anymore.

I don't use Nortons so might be apples & oranges to compare but I use a synthetic Nagura on my King stones for slurry and/or light lapping & cleaning.
Seems to give a slightly more polished surface than without.

Never saw the need to use any rubbing stone on a norton. I tried it just for fun, but it didn't change anything for me.
It is true that the norton flattening stone leaves a rough surface, but that's why I switched to using a DMT. And while the surface after the nfs feels rough, I don't think it interferes with honing much.

While any slurry stone will have some benefit for refreshing the surface, Norton describes its purpose as being both for reducing the need for lapping and for creating a slurry.