When I about my wicked edge Pro package 1 I opted to get the 1200 / 1600 ceramic stones in place of the leather strops. After using the wicked edge for a while I’m wanting to buy some leather strops to further polish the edge. I’m not sure which strops to buy going from the 1200 / 1600 ceramic stones. Should I by the 5 / 3.5 diamond paste strops or the 1 / .5 diamond paste leather strops after using the 1200 / 1600 ceramic stones?
I have no experience with either of these specific products so take my opinion for what it’s worth.
micrographs providedGrit recedes deeply into a soft substrate like leather therefore compounds act far finer than their particle size would suggest. Look at the for both the 1600 ceramic and 14 micron pasted strop. The 14 micron strop produces a far higher polish. Skipping it and attempting to jump to a finer compound i.e. 5 micron will probably not work as well as you would like, especially if your goal is a mirror polish. I recommend that you get the 14/10 micron strops to use after the 1600 ceramics.
I agree totally with the 14/10 combo that is all you can afford to get. Honestly, after my ceramics, I use the 14/10 strop combo, Then I go to the 5/3.5 then I use the 1.05 and add two more with substrates of CBN. That’s just me you will do fine with that. Best of success.
Thanks to both of you for steering me in the right direction.
If I may offer some insight that has worked with me to get a mirror polish:
I go through the routine of taking the edge up to 1000 on the diamond stones, then 1200/1600 ceramics. After that I strop with wet dry sandpaper: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500.
After that I use the leather strops with 5.0 and 3.5 and then another set with 1.5 and 0.5 paste. The results are quite fetching and the edge is very very sharp, but not toothy.
Keep in mind- for me it’s a terrific edge for kitchen knives… For my Sebenza 25, 21, and Nyala it’s not the best utility edge. Most people will probably agree a toothier edge is better for outdoor use but of late I haven’t been out camping or fishing, and I won’t be hunting this year so food prep and light EDC carry is about all my knives are getting aside from the occasional yard and gardening work.
If you can only get one I would suggest 14/10 micron. I did a test on a knife and jumped from the ceramics to 5/3.5, bypassing the 14/10 and while it was extremely sharp I wasn’t that satisfied so I jumped back to the 14/10 micron and the knife was CRAZY sharp after stropping with those. I then progressed to the 5/3.5 microns and had an insane edge.
I have and use both, and am planning to buy the 14/10 as well.