Thread: 6000 grit, now what next

So i honed my first razor with a 6000 japaneese. Today I shaved with it, It went ok i guess but I would like to make it sharper.

I am on a budget. So I was wondering what I should buy to make it sharper. Do I really have to buy a higer grit stone or I could just buy green paste or 0.5

I could certainly afort paste and hope to not buy a stone, but if i really have to buy a stone i will

I don't really care if i have to spend 2 hour stroping or something. I am mostly wondering if i can get to the end of the honing pyramid without another stone

thanks

Assuming that the stone is 6000 JIS and not 6000 mesh (like the grading system norton uses), you should be fine with a paddle or hanging strop pasted with 1 micron diamond and .5 micron CrO. Just buying CrO would prolly help, but I think getting the diamond would be a good idea.

sure you can get by with paste but you could probably jump to the chinese 12K aswell
and that dont cost a lot

Can I get there with just the 0.5 micron CrO ? or would it take too long

stropping with a polishing compund should not be a matter of time.
By that I mean it is not true when it is said:
"If your razor is honed on 800grit all you have to do is make 30.000 strikes on Chromium Oxide"
Things don´t work that way.

Chromium oxide (0.5µm) is a polishing compound. A 6000grit stone cuts away metal, leaving scratch marks and worse teeth on the edge.
If the Cr2O3 is simply too fine to abrade the teeth, they will stay and hurt your skin
If however you are lucky and your honing skill is good you probably will get by with jumping from 6000 to Cr2O3

I recommend getting a "coarser" paste like 1µm diamond and Chromium Oxide.
I would rather leave out the Chromium than the 1µm diamond.

But why don´t you get your razor honed by a honemeister from here?

6000, new JIS, is about 2 micron. I think something around 1u, film or paste or 16k Shapton etc..., might be good.

Try going from 6000 straight to the 0.5 Chromium Oxide. If it seems to work ok for you; then maybe a 1u isn't needed. On a budget, I'd go with the paste, too.

A barber's hone can be had for pretty cheap or you could use lapping films.

3M Micro Abrasive Film for Scary Sharpening - PSA at Tools for Working Wood

well I am not sure what I will do with all the info you guys gave me but thaks, you have all been of great help

Ok so would this give me good shave

1000k
6000k
ebay item 360211941367 that i would have to buy
0.5 CrO

?

Also while I am at it. I think I read that you can put lather on a waterstone to make it softer

What does that mean ? I have to put soap on the stone ?

That progression will give you a very comfortable shave. To save time you should start with slurry on the Guangxi stone and finish with water only. Lather on the stone is something you could try when you're more experienced.

It may be better to introduce paste in your progression when you know you can get the maximum sharpness out of your Guangxi. After using paste it will be tougher to judge how well you honed.