I've been pondering the real differences in stropping with CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) on nanocloth mounted on a glass plate, vs. a flexible nanocloth (unmounted, like what Dr. Matt sells). It seems to me that the flat glass mounted strop would work well only if the razor edge is absolutely flat along the complete razor edge. The slightest inconsistency will cause a slight bump off the nano cloth and the abrasive. Using a flexible unmounted nanocloth loaded with the abrasive would seem to me to compensate for any irregularities in flatness on the razor edge.

I've been using the glass plate mounted nanocloths and have noticed small irregularities in the razor edge that do not polish out even after many strop circuits. I have a unmounted nanocloth strop on order from Dr. Matt that I will use to test out my supposition that a flexible nanocloth loaded with abrasive is more forgiving of edge irregularities and therefore more useful than a glass mounted nanocloth loaded with abrasive.

I tell 'ya, this honing stuff is fascinating. And, from a purely technical point of view, the understanding of what is happening during honing is not very well understood... other than get the mating edge "sharp". I've been doing a bunch of reading on abrasives. Very surprising that the best abrasives are hard like diamond and CBN, but not spherical. An effective abrasive needs to be irregularly shaped with a multitude of facets. Additionally, particle size distribution is of great importance in that a truly effective abrasive must have a very tight particle size range. Now I think I understand why the Japanese whetstones are more effective and work more aggressively on ultra sharp things like razors compared to natural stones. I also can understand why Ken Schwartz's CBN slurries with their very tight particle size distribution works better than diamond or other CBN preparations that do not have a tight particle size distribution. I also understand why limestone particles that come off a natural stone are not as efficient as CBN or diamond, since the natural stones produce relatively "soft" particles and the particle size distribution is very wide. The thing about Naniwa Superstones, Chosera stones, and Shapton Pro Stones is that the grit is hard, irregular shaped, and the particle size distribution if very, very, tight around the claimed grit size. Keep in mind that I am talking about the grit, not the binders that are used to manufacture these stones. Some of the Japanese whetstones are described as "soft" but that is referring to fact that the binder is not very strong and tends to allow the stone to wear away easily, the grit itself is of quite hard composition.