Thread: When is your Straight Razor Sharp

Yup, Lapping film has been around for a long time, much is written about it and it does work well.

You might have better results with a glass tile, (Lowes, 12X3, 5 bucks) lapped flat with a diamond plate or wet and dry, it laps easily. Once you have a lapped flat surface the paper will stick to it very well and you can do anything on it, that you would do with a stone, I haven’t cut or torn a piece in years, since I lapped the substrate flat. You can also lap ceramic tiles flat. Plate glass is not flat, neither are marble or granite tiles.

Personally I find .3um film too sharp, it will exfoliate skin. 1um is plenty if the bevel is properly honed. Try a piece of copy paper under the 1um to polish the edge after finishing, on 1um without paper. You don’t need 100 laps.

Film does leave a very uniform stria pattern and straight edge, and surprisingly lasts a long time. Film works especially well with very hard, chippy razors. And you can’t beat the price, about 50 cents per piece, that will hone 15-20 razors.

It does work, and have its uses, but compared to a quality stone, it is a hassle. Glad it works for you.

You can buy the same 3m, film in larger sheets (11X9 in) from Thor Labs for much less. $13.80 for 10 sheet that can be cut (with a paper cutter) to 11X3 easily, or 2.75 X 9 at 34.5 cent per piece.

Do not buy the diamond film, it is 10 times the cost, for the same performance. And the sheets are smaller.

You can get much better results that the photos posted at the Best Sharpening site.

You really only need 3um and 1um, from a 1k bevel set, just make absolutely sure your bevel is set.

Originally Posted by kelbro

Thanks. I have plenty of hones along with diamond pasted leather paddle strops up to 200K but always interested in hearing about alternatives.

I suggest this only out of my experience with the lapping film. I do not have a bunch of sharpening supplies, but more than the average guy.

I use lapping film also. Mounted on glass. Very pleased with the results.

Where do you get your lapping film and what do you have to pay per sheet. Amazon is about $5 a sheet plus another $6.95 to ship it. I get mine from BestSharpeningStones.com for $4.95 a sheet and a few dollars shipping.

Toolsforwoodworking. Ranging price, but about $2.40/sheet of 8.5x11.

Thor Labs, 10 sheets 11X9 inch, 13.80, $1.38 per sheet.

Here’s the link to the film, it can be hard to find on the site.

Thanks a lot. Sure is less than I pay. What I get is 3M. Can you verify the quality of the lapping film for me please.

Thanks I will check it out. Can you verify the quality of the lapping film. what I get is 3M, guess that's the reason for the high price or it is the site that escalates the price for profit.

Yup, it’s 3m. Just don’t buy the diamond film.

Been using it for years.

Really all you need is 3 and 1um and a flat substrate. You should get 10-20 honings from an individual piece and 3-4 pieces from each sheet.