Lapping film success and thanks to a member

I recently purchased 3 straight razors from a member here to practice restoration. Have to say I loved the razors I got. Great deal too. Definitely recommend buying from here. Don't want to mention the member by name but you know who you are.

Anyway, one of the razors came pretty sharp, just needed a touchup. I decided to try lapping film rather than a traditional stone. Bought 5,3,1 and .3. I decided to start with the .3 and ended up doing around 20 laps. I tested sharpness by tree topping some armhair. Easily passed that test so I tried a full shave.

I am brand new to straight shaving, only a couple weeks in, shaving daily. This was the best shave to date. To be honest it's not perfect but that is more technique than blade. My beard grows from left to right so it's hard to do with or against the grain. Best I can do is 45 degree across the grain. Not the best way to start but I'm definitely hooked on straight razors.

If anyone is interested in trying lapping film, I highly recommend it. I paid just under $20 for 3 pieces of each shipped. Cut to size that stuff will last me the rest of the year, easily. Most people claim 10+ sharpening per piece and I cut each sheet into 3 pieces. Hope new people can get a good blade and learn to hone themself. Well worth it.

Sounds you are pretty enthusiastic, Greedy!
That lapping film is the subject of too many threads here which a forum search will reveal.
I don't necessarily think it the best course for a beginner.
That's just me, though.
Anyway, we don't really need a lapping film thread here, do we? Pretty complicated subject, I think.
Your experience has been hashed-out many times. Wake up an existing thread on the subject!
No offence, just YMMV

Lapping film is great stuff. I use the 3m mylar backed stuff for makers mark cleaning or scale inlay work where I don't want to pull anything out of an etch or groove but just want to smooth the surface.
For honing, it works well, if on a stable flat surface, but wears out quickly, adding a new layer of consideration, and variability to a delicate process.
Congrats on the success, but I humbly recommend a norton 4/8k as your next acquisition if you can. A really great stone to start with. Also well documented on here.

:chapeau

Post has nothing to do with lapping film vs stone etc. Just a beginners thoughts on using it and my opinion on getting a good shave out of using it.

I read a lot of the threads on lapping film. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how you get your blade sharp, just that you get a good shave.

Lapping film works fine. I think a lot of guys use it before they pop for stones. Especially if your not going to be honing a lot of razors. I got to play with some at Euclid440's and it seemed to work fine for me.

Oh, I know some like it! Admittedly, I have never had a need to try it, so I haven't.
It seems to be an expensive route in the long run. At least to me.
My post was YMMV, so just another take on it.


(We can now proceed with a lapping film thread!):D

You will find it much easier setting a bevel on a 1 or 4k good synthetic stone, then move to film, 5um, 3, 1 and .3um, then again with a single sheet of copy paper under the .3um film, just a few laps.

The copy paper will cushion the film and convex the edge, so you get a secondary bevel polishing only a third of the bevel from the edge back. It will give you a much smoother shave.

Personally I find .3um too sharp and finish on 1um with paper underneath.

Do not buy Diamond film, Silicon Carbide (5um) and Aluminum Oxide film works just as well for a fraction of the cost. I buy from Thorlabs. Cut to size with a Paper Cutter.

Also do lap your substrate flat with a diamond plate or 325 wet & dry. You can buy 3X12 in glass tiles from Lowes for about $5. Lapping them flat improves performance.

Film is not expensive, for the cost of a single, good stone, for one maintaining a handful of razors, a one-time purchase is a lifetime supply.