pasted strop plan after 8k?

i have recently gotten some 1.0 and 0.5 micron diamond compound and applied them to 2 pieces of balsa wood as paddle strops. thus far they have improved my edge but i am anxious to learn what other people do and therefore have some questions.

1) after passing the HHT off of the 8k how many laps on each of the 2 strops is typical?
2) what, if any, are good tests (besides the shave test) to tell when to go from 1 to 0.5 micron or when the edge has been optimized
3) is there any benifit to using 0.25 micron paste?
4) can you "over strop" a razor on an abrasive pasted strop using these pastes? if so what are the indications?

I bought a pasted paddle strop from Tony Miller. It has 4 sides smooth leather on 3 balsa on the fourth. Pastes are 3, 1, .5 and .25. The .25 is on the balsa and I like this alot. I go from the Norton 8k to the 1 followed by the .5 and then .25. I stick with the shaving test at this point. I do 20 trips on each side.

I am not sure but I don't think you can overstrop a razor but I am not sure.

Yes sir you can. If you have a microscope you'll see it possesses the same appearance although backwards as overhoning. IE the damage and tearing occurs from bevel base to bevel edge. To the casual eye it would appear overhoned.

I also do 20 round trips on each grit and do not use any test to determine when to move up. At this high a grit your looking at very subtle variances, if there is a test I am simply not aware of it. Although moving the razor over my arm hair does yeild a different cutting ability at this point. It catches and shaves hair from a greater distance and with more authority. Thats the only way I can describe it.

.25 and balsa are a combination I don't have but based on my experience I might do as many as 40 passes with that as a finish. I agree with Rich from another thread that, you can just redo the entire process again if you don't get any improvement. I don't use this technique as much any more but sometimes I did 3 cycles before I got much improvement. In other words a balsa base is "flatter" and requires more passes, yet the edge is more sharp so its worth the effort.

I do not use pasted strops forever, at some point I prefer to always return to a stone and then go back to pasted strops. I'm not sure if this is really required or if its just habit, but I thought I'd mention it.

If your going to use 1.0 and 0.5 then stick with 20 laps in the beginning. You can always repeat it easily if you want to.

There is no test taht I know of.

The 0.25 can make an edge to sharp and uncomfortable for some people but for others its great.

I concur with the lads so far.

1. 20 gentle laps per grit should do well.
2. The shave is the only truly applicable test after any kind of stropping.
3. I love an 0.25 finish. :D
4. Oh, yeah. I did it intentionally once just to see, ooo ... burning razor rash.

X

P.S. I'd love to hear more about the balsa surface after you've had some time to play with it.

Well I don't have the knowledge of the wise gentlemen who have so far responded but I can tell you this, from a Newbie:-

I used a 6000 grit jap waterstone, 20 laps on 1 micron, 20 on 0.5, 50 on leather, shaved, perfect. The best test is my skin.

Gary

btw I did get advice from the former gents ha...ha...ha...