Thread: which strop abrasive?

Originally Posted by mparker762

The 3 and 6 micron pastes will be fairly infrequently used, the 1 micron is the main one you'll be using, but 1 micron diamond usually leaves a fairly rough-feeling edge unless the razor is extremely hard. The Dovo red and black pastes, even though they're also roughly 3 and 1 microns leave a much smoother and sharper edge than the equivalent micron diamond, partly because they're much slower. Generally speaking, for two abrasives of roughly equivalent grit sizes, the slower-cutting abrasive will produce the finer edge, so ~3 micron Dovo red produces a finer edge than 3 micron diamond, 1.8 micron boron carbide produces a finer edge than 1 micron diamond, and 0.5 micron chrome oxide produces a finer edge than 0.5 micron diamond, and 0.3 micron Linde "A" produces a finer edge than 0.25 micron diamond.

If you're looking at the full Dovo progression of green, red, black, and white paste, then a roughly equivalent diamond progression would be 3, 1, 0.5, and 0.25 microns.

If one was to go with a .5 diamond and follow that with Chrome oxide paste, what are your thoughts?

Originally Posted by Joeman

If one was to go with a .5 diamond and follow that with Chrome oxide paste, what are your thoughts?

It's a bit redundant. 0.5 micron chrome oxide isn't sufficiently finer than 0.5 micron diamond to warrant using the diamond first. The main reason to keep the 0.5 micron diamond around is that some razors just do better with it than with the chrome oxide. TI's seem to prefer 0.5 diamond over 0.5 micron chrome oxide IMO.

Ah, good to know. The beauty of this forum, learn something new, and beneficial every day. I've made it my goal to try and maintain my razors so it's a challenge, but fun.

Joeman

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

The camera battery finally got charged. Here's a couple of shots. Not my best work, but I was in a hurry. I placed a DA in the shot for size reference.





Thanks for all of the feedback. The Diapaste is tempting, but for the cost I may still lean toward the Dovo paste. Still trying to decide.

- Mark (S-4-C)

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.