3M Trizact 3" X 9" 5000 grit -20 sheets for ~$15 : Is it good to strop/polish ?

DocJD

DocJD

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I've ordered some 5000 grit 3M Trizact sheets 3 X 9" for a ridiculously low price and I'm wondering if it's useful for final sharpening/ strop/ polish ?

Any experience to share about this product and/or the 3000 grit version of same ?
 
This would be a question for the maintenance, tinkering and embellishment forum. I'm sure there would be someone there that could answer your question.
 
bt93 said:
This would be a question for the maintenance, tinkering and embellishment forum. I'm sure there would be someone there that could answer your question.
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Yes , I'm sure you're right ! Could someone PLEASE help and transfer this thread to the best area ?

Thanks kindly .
 
HELP , SOS , 911 ; Please transfer this thread to appropriate place ! I would do so if I knew how .
 
I've used both the 3000 and 5000 and they share the same characteristic; they tend to mar the blades finish. Stray from letting it contact the sharpened edge even a hair and you end up with the same type of smear you might get if it was red Scotchbrite instead. Because Trizact has a soft backing even the lightest of pressure causes the abrasive surface to envelope parts of the knife you hadn't intended. I thought it sounded like a neat idea, but after trying it on a few knives - and seeing what it does to them - I've put it away for good.
 
Thanks for your post, Jman ! Just the sort of information I am seeking . I had seen some videos and written reviews raving about the stuff for a short cut final sharpening / strop and polish . Wouldn't be the first time a short cut turned out to be a road to nowhere .
 
I bought some Trizact 3000 and 5000. At least you got them for a good price. The 3000 is approximately 6.5 microns and the 5000 is about 4 microns. I forget where I got that info, could be from 3M website. The idea of stropping / polishing should be based on those micron sizes. i also think, as someone mentioned, the softness of the backing can come into play.

I got them with the idea of using them to deburr the edges in between stages. I think they worked well for that. The soft independent backing would move and give in to the main body of the knife but it would catch and clean up the burrs on the edge. I've since simplified to using red scotchbrite for rebeveling / chip repair stages and a flesh side leather strop loaded with ALOX for later stages for deburring.
 
Thanks Rey for your post . The great deal turned out to be just a mistake and more trouble than it was worth . If it's too good to be true , then it probably ain't !

I'm old to collecting and using blades of all sorts but brand new to putting a real razor edge on one . Stropping is a mystery I'm trying to fathom .

I did manage to get one sheet each of 3000 and 5000 and have been experimenting on some on my ol' beaters . One of them had a bead blasted finish which even the 5000 seems to polish out some . Glad that Jman warned me so I didn't mess-up a prized knife .

The softness of the backing is definitely a factor which I'm trying to adjust for but I think I'm still rounding the edge thus far .

I'll have to investigate the "red scotchbrite " and ALOX .

Thanks again !
 
DocJD said:
The softness of the backing is definitely a factor which I'm trying to adjust for but I think I'm still rounding the edge thus far .

I'll have to investigate the "red scotchbrite " and ALOX .

Thanks again !
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Just to clarify: no one is using red scotchbrite to either sharpen or strop a knife. I use it to DEBUR after re-beveling or chip repairing stages. I don't care that the finish or the edge will be ruined because I will still refine it. I find that the scotchbrite is fast and effective in removing the burrs off the edge.
 
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Thanks Rey for those details because I really did not know !
 
Yea, definitely don't use red Scotchbrite as a strop. That's even more abrasive then the 3000 Trizact.
 
Thanks Jman, I'm realizing I'll have to do some basic 101 stropping research rather than some ill-advised "short cut" . I can put a utility edge that gets the job done but recent thought I might do better . I can usually achieve a sharpness to cut catalog paper but not razor sharp .

At least now I know what not to use on my mirror finish blades !
 
Here is jdavis882's review of 3M Trizact 3000.
[video=youtube;yK__FD1nfbY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK__FD1nfbY[/video]

I've tried it. Works good for field use where compound and paste strops can get easily contaminated. The soft backing does tend to produce a slight convexed edge.
 
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