Lenny

Yes, I know about lapping film and use them when I am going for a truly mirrored edge. I am not interested in achieving a perfectly mirrored edge in this instance for economies sake. My question was more in regards the experience users have with following the ceramics with 4/2 micron and 1/0.5 micron strops and if they were to use only one, which…[Read more]

Sure, but what I was getting at was that if 1/0.5 micron strops (with a less aggressive compound) wasn’t a good fit to follow the Micro Fine Ceramics because they are not aggressive enough, why wouldn’t have they opted for the 5/3.5 micron strops instead?

Thanks for all the thoughts guys. I’m going to mess around with it some on a few test knives I have. I just noticed that the Pro-Pack II transitions from the 1.4/0.6 ceramics to 1/0.5 micron pastes. From what I have heard, the emulsions are more effective than pastes of a given grit.

I have actually thought of a powered systems (like a Tormek…[Read more]

I figure I should post an update.

I found a piece of float glass and attached the 1.5 and 0.5 micron lapping films to it; multiple pieces of each were used to give a larger working surface. I used both small amounts of light weight mineral oil and later trend lapping fluid. I worked in a figure 8 pattern with hands on either end of the stones,…[Read more]

Thanks for the info guys. The photos in the thread are helpful. I don’t think I’ll be working the 9 micron films in my progression unless I feel the need to buy a whole new set of blank handles.

Yeah, I think that the plates are pretty flat and produce something close enough to a v bevel to let the films take care of the rest. Of course, a bevel doesnt have to be V cut in the first place to be sharp.

I don’t disagree with that at all and this is not my first sharpening method. This is why I say that the glass backed lapping films produce what is closest to a true V bevel.

I think that having good technique and attention to detail is needed but while looking at many of my diamond stones they are clearly not flat. Not hugely concave or convex, but noticeably not flat. I don’t see this issue with my lapping film blanks.

Yes, that has been my experience as well with the ceramics and films and not just on the WE. I find that the lapping films are the most consistent medium. I also feel they give the closest thing to a true V Bevel as we can get since they are glass backed.

Have you noticed any break in with them like in the super fine ceramics (if you have used those stones)?

How long have you been using your micro fine ceramics?

Yes, I’ve noticed that too. I think a lot of water stones use a coarser grit rating for a given numeric value, for example, the 1000 grit WE stone sits between the 5000 and 8000 grit Shapton according to the grit comparison table.

Yes, Organic is correct, play around with it. The diamond stones are the foundation of any sharpening progression I use on the WE. From there, I will proceed with lapping films, ceramics, or more straight to strops. I do not use the lapping films and ceramics together and no do I use strops after my lapping films because I finish with a 1 micron…[Read more]

My 1200 grit ceramics do not produce a “scratch” to my eye. Instead its more of a dull luster; these are obviously still scratches but I wanted to describe it in a way relevant to your question.

I really like the 14/10 strops on balsa. I like the finish they give after the super fine ceramics. I’ve been experimenting using them between my 1500 grit stone and 6 micron films when I’m going the lapping film route.

Yes, that might work. I have some trend lapping fluid which is made specifically for use with diamond abrasives.

Did you try any intermediate grits before taking the ceramics to the 1.5 micron lapping films?

That’s true. I’ll first try rubbing like stones together. I’m moving away from 1.5 Micron film though so I might still give that a shot. I’ll report back if I do.

Yes, that’s what I am getting at. Since the stones are rated at 1.4/0.6 microns using 1.5/0.5 films seems reasonable. I had a pair or the micro fine and while to the eye they seemed flat, they were not.