[quote quote=“KenSchwartz” post=2415]I believe I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but for convenience, you might find these three articles I wrote useful in appreciating the difference in a well designed abrasive preparation vs some less well designed preparations - not necessarily cheaper, but more overpriced for what you are getting.
http://precisesharpening.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html
http://precisesharpening.blogspot.com/2011/01/part-2a-comparison-of-three-quarter.html
http://precisesharpening.blogspot.com/2011/01/cbn-cubic-boron-nitride-scanning.html
To repeat a quote from one of the articles:
“Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.”
Ken[/quote]
Ken,
Thanks for the above information and links, and no I guess I missed them if you had posted them elsewhere. Do I undersand where to obtain your products? Is that the product that Clay is sell here? Or do you have a separate ecommerce site somewhere?
You might remember me from my previous postings: I am the “cheaper is better guy”. I came up with a mod for the WE arms that cost 5 bucks, I use red iron oxide strop compound that is used on my jewelry bench (another hobby of mine!) that costs even less ! You get the idea :cheer:
Well I am preparing another post for later today where I respond to the last 4 or five posts from others. Certain statement that some have made here have caught my eye, and I want to quote them and then respond with my humble thoughts.
One thing has happened here as a result of all this discussion that has thrown me into action: I feel that my position is not defensible if i have not put it to the test. I had a sample of a 2 micron Diamond compound from some years ago sitting on my bench. It was part of a polishing kit I obtained for working platinum jewelry. I never used it for that purpose, but did try it on a few knives. I recall that I saw very little difference in those knives after the red iron oxide polish, so hence never felt motivated to by more samples or other even finer grits. i just let the whole subject fade away. But now we are all here disussing this issue. We have all sorts of issues, points of view, various vendors of product, SEMs of blades and compounds. WHEW! it’s enough to make my old head spin!
In the face of all that information I am nagged by the thought, “What if I am wrong and they are right?” After all, I never really tried any compounds that purport to being sub micron. So not to be on here just blowing a lot of hot air, and being an inveterate fiddler I decided to go ahead and obtain some samples and give it a go. We will see where that yellow brick road ends. One thing for sure –>>> it ain’t cheap! I have been busy on the internet and have on order sets of blank handles, leather handles, various grits in a range from Clays 3.5 down to 2 to 1 to .5 (two samples that: one Chromium Oxide, One Diamond) to a no name brand .25 and now your nice looking .25 to compare it to.. so it has turned into a $$$ project, probably 300 so far and counting! Guess now a need a good 400x stereo microscope,.. Hummm, well there goes my “cheaper is better”
Will post later with some comments in response to others POV… It will take weeks to actually test my new toys, and of course I have to wait for Elk season to see if Clay is right about all this :cheer: 
-Dan
