Sandpaper -- first attempts -- comments?

I've been playing in the low-cost end of the razor pool -- RAD doesn't have to be expensive.

First razor was a antique-store full-hollow Wade and Butcher (lots of trouble with rust and frowning edge -- I didn't know what to look for when I bought it).

Second razor was a flea-market half-hollow Boker with broken scales (no problems, now in new scales from Thiers).

Third razor was a George Butler "Shakespeare" from eBay (edge looked like it had been used to chop wood, everything else was OK).

To check my work against, I have a new Dovo from SRD.

I'm using 3"x9" acrylic plastic on a plywood base, rather than a stone.

Sandpaper grades 600 / 1000 / 2000 grit,
followed by 5 micron microabrasive (mylar backing),
followed by 0.5 micron CrOxide on a cloth strop,
followed by a leather strop.

The nice thing about this setup is that the upfront cost is low (except for the leather strop), and the cost per razor is around $1 - $2 for paper.

Questions:

1. I suspect I should be using something between the 5 micron microabrasive and the 0.5 micron CrOxide -- any ideas?

2. I don't like cutting myself with sharp corners -- I'm trying to achieve the _opposite_ of a spike. So I'm deliberate rounding the corners (the ends of the edge) with "rolling strokes". Is this frowned upon ? Would I do better to keep the edge straight, and grind off the corners after it was sharp?

3. Any other ideas?

I want to thank everyone on SRP -- you've been incredibly helpful. I've gone from "utterly ignorant" to the dangerous place where I think I actually understand what's going on.:)

Charles

there is a 3 and a 1 micron sheet available. Also some german forums use pastes and sprays for all honing.
Check thor labs for the sheets, as well as tools for working wood.
SRD as well as lapidary supply companies sell a range of pastes and sprays.
Overall though these solutions have a much higher long term cost as compared to stones. Most of these stones will last the average end user the majority of his life if not the entirety.

-G

there is a 3 and a 1 micron sheet available. Also some german forums use pastes and sprays for all honing.
Check thor labs for the sheets, as well as tools for working wood.
SRD as well as lapidary supply companies sell a range of pastes and sprays.
Overall though these solutions have a much higher long term cost as compared to stones. Most of these stones will last the average end user the majority of his life if not the entirety.

As for rounding the toes, I would suggest taking the time to learn how to shave with a square or spike point. I was weary at first, but have found them a very useful tool. I started with a slightly muted square, but quickly learned their advantages. As with every aspect of this hobby I find the different points as a variation of a tool. There are things that I can do with a round that I can't with a spike and there are many points where a spike excels.

-G