Thread: Hand American

Hey Chaaaz,

I just started using the .25 diamond paste this week and boy does it make a difference!

I go from the 12000 chinese stone to a .5 pasted strop then to the .25 diamond pasted strop.

Its a nice sequence.

About the only change I am going to try is going from the 12000 stone then to a 1.0 micron diamond pasted strop. It just seems to be to big of a jump to go from the 12000 to the .5 micron pasted strop.
I am going to try the 1.0 diamopnd paste and some flake graphite or rottenstone as an alternative. I will keep you guys posted on the results, eventually.

Randy,
My Amplex chart seems to have gotten lost in the files section so here is a quick rundown on micron to equivalent grit/mesh size for diamond pastes or compounds.

9 micron 1,800 grit
6 micron 3,000 grit
3 micron 8,000 grit
1 micron 14,000 grit
0.5 micron 60,000 grit
0.25 micron 100,000 grit

The first few match up closely to the hones many of us use. I am using pasted strops instead of hones and having much better luck myself. My sequence is 9 micron, 1 micron, .5 micron, TI white paste, leather/linen strop. I skip the 9 and 1 micron unless starting with a newly aquired dull razor. The .5 and TI paste is to bring back an edge after using it for a few weeks.
This has worked much better for me than hones/stones have. I did just pickup an older strop that used the red and black pastes so may give that a try too and see how it works.
Best,
Tony

Nice grit ranges.

What grit do you think the plain unconditioned leather has?

Good question. Just like a post a few days ago about the linen side, people will claim that being softer than the steel it cannot sharpen the edge. BUT, leather, linen, your Levis, etc.... will all shine up the edge of a piece of steel rubbed against them so they must have some effective honing ability.

Tony

Hello Tony,

I have now used the flake graphite on two razors and it does have a sharpening effect. I think it is close to a one micron size and it is slow but definite. Please note that I use the dry form of graphite, chrome oxide, rottenstone and .25 diamond in a powder form. The only one that I have added oil to is the diamond. The graphite and the rottenstone have both been used on a piece of vinyl with a fine texture. It works just fine as a substitute for leather when using the dry form of the abrasives. I have not tried it yet with a paste on vinyl but I would think that it would work ok and costs a lot less.

Food for thought,

Randy,
I was wondering about rottenstone and pumice too. I used them quite a bit for polishing out varnish finishes on woodworking projects.

Might have to make up a strop for that too.

I am finally feeling satisfaction now that I gave up on the stones and went with all pasted strops. Just "brought back" another old razor that was close but not quite there by starting on a 1 micron strop and progressing to finer and finer pastes. It gave me a a great shave this morning.

Tony

Chaaaz, I use a piece of plain unfinished leather, but I oil and condition the leather first, just as a would a regular strop. That way the paste stays more towards the surface where it will do the most good. I also mix the paste with a bit of neatsfoot oil to allow it to spread more easily on the leather. On Ray from Classic Shavings recomommendation, I never use the paste on a hanging strop but only on a paddle strop or flat leather glued or laying upon a hard surface.

Bob

Hello Tony,

I have used the rottenstone and it is very fine stuff. It is still to early for me to say anything with certainty but for the time being I use the rottenstone after the .5 micron abrasive.

I am not so sure where a fine pumice would fit in. It may be a 1-2-3 micron but would probably be worth trying out. Both the rottenstone and the pumice are probably breaking down into finer sizes as you use them. It is definitely not as fast as either the chrome oxide or the diamond.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Randy,
I was wondering about rottenstone and pumice too. I used them quite a bit for polishing out varnish finishes on woodworking projects.

Might have to make up a strop for that too.

I am finally feeling satisfaction now that I gave up on the stones and went with all pasted strops. Just "brought back" another old razor that was close but not quite there by starting on a 1 micron strop and progressing to finer and finer pastes. It gave me a a great shave this morning.

Tony

So many choices, so little time

Just received a Flatbed Hone from Hand American. Absolute top quality, very reasonable price and excellent service. I've already polished up three razors and they are hair popping sharp. Will shave with one tomorrow morning.
I wouldn't hesitate to do business with these people again.
Jack

I just received my new hone and I am getting ready to try it. Keith is a really great guy. I ordered the larger hone but he called me and told me to save a few $ and get the smaller unit. Not many places would have done that. They will see more of my business for sure.

Gregg