Proper grit jumps

J

J-P SAN

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Apr 23, 2013
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leveling from low grit to high, I've heard that 1000 is good enough to move on to 3000 and up. how ever I'm wondering that can I jump to 2000, 3000 and up from 600? Is it too high of jump?


~J
 
A lot will depend on the steel, but generally you should be able to go from 600 to 2k, 600 to 3k might be pushing it. I used to go from 800 to 4k as a progression and it worked fine. On softer cutlery you can get away with a lot more. Was at a buddy's house just a few days ago showing him one of my Washboard kits. Sharpened up a 20yr old Chicago cutlery utility knife - approx 8" blade that had never been sharpened since it left the factory - was rounded and throwing back light everywhere it wasn't chipped. Only used 320 grit sandpaper and went straight to the white compound and then to plain paper. Took less than ten minutes. Didn't work out every chip, but raised a burr, flipped, removed, and it wasn't just popping hairs, they were collecting on the edge in a little heap (I was showing it to him for advice on trademark and copyright issues, but right on the spot he pulled out his wallet and bought it for his father for Xmas :) ).

A harder steel wouldn't respond quite so well, and the tougher they get the more steps you'll likely want depending on your materials. Myself I shoot for the fewest steps, but if it isn't coming around within a couple of minutes I'll drop down to a coarser grit.
 
I like the 1k to 6k jump on the a imanishi 1k/6k combination stone, does a good job of erasing the 1k scratch pattern :)
 
Well generally i prefer a 2x - 3x jump.

The 600-2000 is just under a 4x jump and should be fine. 600-3000 is a 5x jump and should be fine on simpler steels. But anything fancy and i would want something inbetween.
 
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