Thread: Hand American 6.0 micron compound.

I use one too for finish very good.

Originally Posted by Dick Danger

I used the 6µ compound with a textured strop. The razor wouldn't shave arm hairs, but under a cheapo scope it didn't look totally dead either. It took a long time, probably 250-300 laps, I lost count, but it did make a comeback. After the 6µ I move to the 1.8µ on smooth unfinished leather for another 100 or so laps, I lost count again, could have been closer to 200. I finished up with the Hand American .5µ paste and then a plain strop.

The razor still will not pass the hanging hair test but it shaves my arm, and more importantly my face just fine.

You need to think in terms of grit. 6 micron is like 3K. I don't think you would want to do 250-300 on a 3K unless you had a sizeable chip. My gues is you went way past overhoning and came back to a formed edge. Then you went to the 1.8 Handamerican says their 1.8 is a 14K. That's like a very fine finishing hone. You did a lot of laps, so maybe you brought it to shaving condition and maybe the .5 did somethig, but it doesn't sound like it.

Next time you use the 6, work on the razor until the edge is formed and move on. For comfort, you need something coarser than a 1.8. A 3 would be like an 8K grit and would be good. When you stop getting improvement with an abrasive move on to the next finer one. By the time you finish the .5 your edge should shave well.