https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Norton-Ascent-Ceramic-Stone-Fine-P1968C25.aspx
What in the heck is this thing? There are zero results in the archive here. Sounds like Norton tried to create a synthetic novaculite. Has anyone used one and do they live up to their claims?
"No Flattening Required - Norton Ascent Stones start flat and remain flat. Checking a stone for flatness before every use is not needed.
"Used Dry - Norton Ascent Ceramic Stones do not require any oil or water when sharpening. No preparation or cleanup is required.
"Knife sharpeners will value the Norton Ascent Ceramic's flatness as well of course, but also their ability to handle super hard alloys. Hone exotic steel knives to razor sharpness quickly and efficiently."
More specifically, it looks like Norton has come up with a replacement, a substitute for translucent Arks. That makes sense somewhere, I recently read on the sharpeningsupplys website that the Norton translucent bench stone is no longer available because Norton has stopped dismantling it.
I've read something here and there about the Norton Ascent Ceramic Stones in the Bladeforum. Technically it has to be the same foundation as the Spyderco Stones. But with the difference that the stones from Spyderco are not really flat from the factory and Spyderco leaves it up to the buyer to flatten these stones. Sal explains this with the production costs/sales prices which would otherwise (for a really flat stone) be far too high.
The Norton Ascent, on the other hand, are said to be really dead-flat and the surface is said to be better finished, which would explain the significantly higher price.
How fine the respective stones are, regardless of whether they are Norton or Spyderco, simply depends on the conditioning of the surface. Technically, the Spyderco fine and the Spyderco Ultra fine are the same stone, only the surface of the ultra fine is more finely finished. And like
@inferno, I finished my ultra fine even finer, down to 12-15k. Still, in my opinion, this stone is no substitute for a translucent Ark, not even close!
In general, the artificial ceramic stones like Spyderco fine, ultra fine and also the Norton Ascent have the same curse and blessing at the same time - you can condition the surface finer. But that also means, as I have experienced first-hand, that the stones become finer and slower with normal use. To the point where they do almost nothing. Then you have no choice but to condition the surface again (with loose sic powder), i.e. to make it less fine again. This is also confirmed by Sal himself, which can be read in the Cliff Stamp Forum and in the Spyderco Forum.
And at the latest, it becomes noticeable when stones are not completely flat...then it becomes a tedious, ****** job!
Personally, I can't get used to the concept! I am in the process of selling my Spyderco stones and I am absolutely not going to try a Norton Ascent, even for free!
