Thread: which strop abrasive?

Those look very nice! You say you made those yourself? I've read in Wiki about the balsa wood. I'm a bit tempted to try unfortunately I am not the most mechanically inclined Hey, don't laugh, good to know these things about yourself before you lose a digit or two!

Again, those look very nice.

Coticules are supposed to give a smooth edge owing to the garnets embedded in them. Has anybody ever heard of a garnet suspension or paste like diamond or chromium oxide?

Jerry

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

The harshness of the edge is due to the harshness if the shape of the abrasive particle, which is typically related to it's speed as MParker pointed out. Very angular abrasives, even though the same grit size as a more rounded abrasive will cut faster but leave sharper, ragged scratches, (rough edge, rough shave) where the rounded one will cut more slowly but leave smoother scratches (smooth scratches, smoother shave). Of course the perception of rough vs, smooth shave will depend on your particular skin. Some guys have skin that gets irritated easily with any roughness, others could shave with a saw blade and not have a problem.

I myself use diamond for most of my touch up stropping on paddles as it leaves an edge that works well for me. I do occasionally use chromium and think it is a great addition to any paddle.

On hones much of the same thing applies, rounded shapes of the abrasive particles tend to leave smoother edges. This is why coticles cut so smoothly. Even an arkansas stone will leaves a buttery smooth edge if you can hone long enough on one to get the razor sharp. they tend to be very slow cutters.

So, for a 2 sided paddle I still like 1.0 and 0.5 diamond, or 1.0 diamond and 0.5 chromium. The 0.25 and 3.0 would be the optional surfaces, ones I do use occasionally, but not very often. The 3.0 does provide a quick alternative to the 8K Norton if you just want a quick refresh.

Tony

Thanks Tony, as you, MParker and Glen have pointed out, it seems that you have to go with not only what the steel takes to but also what your skin desires as well. From what I've read, it seems like a good point for me would be the 3 diamond instead of an 8K and then go to the .5 Chrome Oxide as my face seems to have a knack for sensativity.

Thanks again guys for all the info, really do appreciate it.