Thread: Micro-Abrasive Sheets: Micron to Grit Conversion

I never purchased from Keith but I've read that HandAmerican sold micro-abrasives that reached very high grits. If the places below are correct that .5 micron micro-abrasives are really #9,000-#12,000 grit, then what was Keith selling? Perhaps Keith sold a completely different product but a lot of people use the sheets from the retailers below as a comparable substitute. Can anyone tell me definitively what the grit sizes are for these sheets? Also, if Keith did at one time sell higher grits, where can I get those micro-abrasives now? Thanks.

From Lee Valley Tools:

The 15 micron (approx. 1000x) removes steel quite quickly; the 5 micron (approx. 2500x) refines the edge to usable keenness; and the 0.5 micron (approx. 9000x) gives it a mirror finish.

From Tools for Working Wood:

In general, a good sequence of sharpening is 15 micron (similar to a 1200 grit waterstone), followed by 5 (similar to a 5000 grit waterstone), followed by either the 1 and/or the .3 Micron Aluminum Oxide (similar to an 6000 or 12000 grit waterstone respectively).

I've used the 5 and 1 micron psa sheets from Tools for Working wood with some success. I treat the 5 as roughly 4000 grit and the 1 as roughly 8000 grit for the purposes of doing a pyramid and come out with a pretty darn smooth comfortable edge. If I wanted a finer grit I would go with a paste, just for ease of use purposes.

Heres the guide

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I've used the 5 and 1 micron psa sheets from Tools for Working wood with some success. I treat the 5 as roughly 400 grit and the 1 as roughly 8000 grit for the purposes of doing a pyramid and come out with a pretty darn smooth comfortable edge. If I wanted a finer grit I would go with a paste, just for ease of use purposes.

Heres the guide

It looks like you don't use the .5 or .3 micron sheets. If you got good shaves off the 1 micron, then I need to work on my technique.

There has been considerable discussion on this topic over the past few years with no firm resolution of the finer grit sizes. Use the Shapton glass hone ratings as your guide.

The 0.5 micron has been rated as both 30,000 and 60,000. If you want to get really confused start looking at the mesh ratings and convert those! Then there are the different rating systems. One for the USA, one for Europe, one for Japan, one for China etc. It is lotsa fun!

Randy,

There used to be a Norton guide comparing the US grit to the micron scale and to the UK grit systems as well as giving the mesh sizes and the comparative Norton oil or water stone in the old archives before the site update.

Thats what I always went by.

Did you have that or was it someone else?

I use the 5 and 1 micron sheets and I get really nice shaves from mine.

The problem is finding it on this computer!

There's one at this link, but I think these charts are for specific types of materials.

Grit - Mesh - Micron Conversion Chart

If you look at the DMT conversion charts, it's different

DMT Chart