Thread: next step after 4k/8k

Ah, a Feather addict. That explains everything.

The Feather is kind of a unique experience in that regard. My experience with traditional straights is that they feel different than a Feather. It's not pulling per say, but there's more resistance to the blade, particularly around the chin.

The trade off is that the traditional blade isn't as harsh on your skin. The Feather often leaves me feeling just a little raw.

You could go straight to the .5, I suppose, but I'm wondering if skipping a grit would mean that it would be hard to get the full benefit of the .5 paste.

One option would be to put 1 micron and .5 micron paste on your paddle and get a piece of balsa wood to put the .25 paste on. Pastes cut slower on balsa wood, which some guys like better.

The diamond paste does cut fast--I wouldn't say too fast, but fast. I think the grit particles are more jagged and so they leave deeper scratches than chromium oxide of the same grit, so the edge isn't as smooth....

Some of the other guys have done a lot of experiments with pastes. Maybe they'll chime in here soon...

Josh

Is there anything in particular that I should be looking for or just grab a piece of balsa wood and paste it up?

I got a strip 1/4" thick by 3" wide at a craft store. Lay some sandpaper on a countertop and lap the piece of balsa to get it flat, and you're golden.

Josh

since handamerica is down for now and classicshaving just has the diamond pastes, where is a good place to get some of this chromium oxide paste?

Holy Jesus Man!!
It looks like they are up and running now. Sorry about the confusion

Dry Chromium Oxide 0.5 micron Approximate 60,000 American Standard Grit - Mohs Rating: 8.5

so does that mean that the chromium oxide is roughly equivelant to a 60,000 grit stone?

The highest grit stone right now is 30,000 grit right?

Originally Posted by saladbar2000

Dry Chromium Oxide 0.5 micron Approximate 60,000 American Standard Grit - Mohs Rating: 8.5

so does that mean that the chromium oxide is roughly equivelant to a 60,000 grit stone?

The highest grit stone right now is 30,000 grit right?

No. There are multiple grit rating systems in use worldwide, which muddies the water quite a bit. Sandpaper and hones almost always use different rating systems. The Japanese rate by the median particle size, and the mesh system (mostly US) rates by the maximum particle size.

The 0.5 micron diamond paste, chrome oxide, and the 30k Shapton hone are all 0.5 micron grit. The 8k Shapton hone is 1.8 micron, but the 8k Norton is 3 micron.

1 micron=14000
.5 micron=50000
.25 micron=100000
these numbers equate with diamond spray...