Diamond spray grit progression

rockman0

rockman0

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May 5, 2013
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My limited search ability didn't turn up this exact question. If I missed a thread please provide a link. The knife I'm sharpening is CPM 4V. After a 1000 grit diamond stone I'm moving to a smooth leather strop loaded with 6 micron spray and getting a sharp and toothy edge, from here should I move to 3 micron or 1 micron to refine the edge but still have a little toothyness?
Thanks
 
If you want a full polish the jump from 1000 grit electroplate (I presume) to 6µ on leather (into which grain deeply receeds) might be too large. If you do not you may not need the intermediate steps and you should try stropping on 3µ or 1µ alone.
 
I've found that anything at/below ~ 3 micron tends to polish more (toward mirror), and whatever toothiness might've been there before tends to get minimized past that point. So, if I'm stropping very much at all with compound, I avoid anything at or below 3 micron to protect any toothy bite I want to save. Lately, I've been stropping with 6-micron diamond paste. And even with that, I try to minimize the number of passes done with it. It doesn't quite approach mirror finish, but might still take a little too much tooth away, if I take it too far on the strop (I use it on wood).

But it's also possible to strop very minimally with something like 1-micron or finer, with the goal being to simply clean up the edge of burrs & such. If it's done minimally, like only a pass or two (maybe 3) per side, the toothy bite can still be protected.
 
Thank you, this certainly makes sense:thumbsup: I think I'll use 3 micron on the flip side of my strop.
Obsessed with Edges said:
I've found that anything at/below ~ 3 micron tends to polish more (toward mirror), and whatever toothiness might've been there before tends to get minimized past that point. So, if I'm stropping very much at all with compound, I avoid anything at or below 3 micron to protect any toothy bite I want to save. Lately, I've been stropping with 6-micron diamond paste. And even with that, I try to minimize the number of passes done with it. It doesn't quite approach mirror finish, but might still take a little too much tooth away, if I take it too far on the strop (I use it on wood).

But it's also possible to strop very minimally with something like 1-micron or finer, with the goal being to simply clean up the edge of burrs & such. If it's done minimally, like only a pass or two (maybe 3) per side, the toothy bite can still be protected.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you, this makes sense as well:thumbsup: the 6 micron is effective after the 1000 grit stone (it's electroplated, Trend is the brand)
Mr.Wizard said:
If you want a full polish the jump from 1000 grit electroplate (I presume) to 6µ on leather (into which grain deeply receeds) might be too large. If you do not you may not need the intermediate steps and you should try stropping on 3µ or 1µ alone.
Click to expand...
 
I go from a 1000 grit diamond stone to 1 micron diamond spray on a strop. Keep thinking about experimenting with maybe 3 or 6 mircon but have been happy with the edges I'm getting so haven't bothered. The edge you end up putting on a knife is personal preference, but I do think keeping the stropping as minimal as possible is generally a good rule to follow.
 
The 3 micron gave me the edge I want:thumbsup: Thanks again to everyone who responded!
 
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