I'm currently trying out nanocloth strops designed for the EP from CKTG combined with 1u and 0.5u CBN spray. I don't know whether to be impressed or feel like I :jerkit: a bunch of $$ away.
I've tried these on a Delica in VG-10 and a Leatherman Skeletool blade in 154CM. On both of these knives, after I finish with both the 2k and 3k tapes, I check sharpness with phonebook paper slicing paying attention to ease of slice plus sound. I'll take for example the Leatherman blade, when I finish on the 3k tapes I finished with light alternating pull strokes to try and eliminate any burr, and the knife was one of the sharpest I've ever done according to the phonebook paper test. Usually in my experience, only a pretty sharp knife will slice phonebook paper from the top of the page whereas you mostly see people in videos slice from the side of the page. On a less sharp edge, slicing from the top of the page results in mostly vertical tears in the page. Anyway, this edge would slice from the top with no effort, would wave cut with no effort and I was thoroughly pleased with it, plus there was virtually no sound when slicing, just that low pitched sound you get when it's laser sharp, not the high pitched sound of a burr and paper tearing.
On to the 1u and 0.5u:
With these final two, I only do light, alternating pull strokes, heel to tip. After both of these, the edge feels super smooth like glass when I do the 3 finger test, but will no longer slice phonebook paper like it did off the 3k tapes, and does more tearing when trying to wave cut. When trying to slice from the top of the page, the edge mainly slides across the paper and won't catch. And it definitely slides across glossier magazine paper. It's like I have to get the blade at a very exact angle for it to slice cleanly. Is this a result from the edge having less tooth at 0.5u than 3u resulting in the edge not being able to catch into the paper as easily? That doesn't make any sense to me, not when cutting paper. Or am I rounding the edge somehow? I understand the CBN is aggressive, but I use a drill stop collar and have checked the angles on these strops also, and they're dead on where they're supposed to be. Comparing the sound of slicing phonebook paper, it's just louder than it should be to me, and there's too much hang up in slicing and the edge sliding on the paper like the edge has a huge burr or is rounded, and it's starting to become frustrating. Comparing the slicing of these to a Para 2 I have microed at 20* with Sharpmaker UF rods and finished up with a Knivesplus strop, the Para 2 edge doesn't feel near as smooth, and not as polished, but slices like crazy at most any angle.
I was comparing the finished Delica to a new, out of the box Endura that may be one of the sharpest out of box knives I've ever owned. The factory Endura will slice and push cut and wave cut like the paper's not there. It's so good that I want to use it for awhile before putting my edge on it. On phonebook paper, the Endura just flat out blew the Delica out of the water, and the Leatherman blade too for that matter. So again, after the longwinded story, the strops seem to yield a pretty good polish and a glass smooth edge where rubbing the thumb across results in little bite. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the CBN and the nano, but don't know really what to think. I'm interested to hear anyone's thoughts.
I've tried these on a Delica in VG-10 and a Leatherman Skeletool blade in 154CM. On both of these knives, after I finish with both the 2k and 3k tapes, I check sharpness with phonebook paper slicing paying attention to ease of slice plus sound. I'll take for example the Leatherman blade, when I finish on the 3k tapes I finished with light alternating pull strokes to try and eliminate any burr, and the knife was one of the sharpest I've ever done according to the phonebook paper test. Usually in my experience, only a pretty sharp knife will slice phonebook paper from the top of the page whereas you mostly see people in videos slice from the side of the page. On a less sharp edge, slicing from the top of the page results in mostly vertical tears in the page. Anyway, this edge would slice from the top with no effort, would wave cut with no effort and I was thoroughly pleased with it, plus there was virtually no sound when slicing, just that low pitched sound you get when it's laser sharp, not the high pitched sound of a burr and paper tearing.
On to the 1u and 0.5u:
With these final two, I only do light, alternating pull strokes, heel to tip. After both of these, the edge feels super smooth like glass when I do the 3 finger test, but will no longer slice phonebook paper like it did off the 3k tapes, and does more tearing when trying to wave cut. When trying to slice from the top of the page, the edge mainly slides across the paper and won't catch. And it definitely slides across glossier magazine paper. It's like I have to get the blade at a very exact angle for it to slice cleanly. Is this a result from the edge having less tooth at 0.5u than 3u resulting in the edge not being able to catch into the paper as easily? That doesn't make any sense to me, not when cutting paper. Or am I rounding the edge somehow? I understand the CBN is aggressive, but I use a drill stop collar and have checked the angles on these strops also, and they're dead on where they're supposed to be. Comparing the sound of slicing phonebook paper, it's just louder than it should be to me, and there's too much hang up in slicing and the edge sliding on the paper like the edge has a huge burr or is rounded, and it's starting to become frustrating. Comparing the slicing of these to a Para 2 I have microed at 20* with Sharpmaker UF rods and finished up with a Knivesplus strop, the Para 2 edge doesn't feel near as smooth, and not as polished, but slices like crazy at most any angle.
I was comparing the finished Delica to a new, out of the box Endura that may be one of the sharpest out of box knives I've ever owned. The factory Endura will slice and push cut and wave cut like the paper's not there. It's so good that I want to use it for awhile before putting my edge on it. On phonebook paper, the Endura just flat out blew the Delica out of the water, and the Leatherman blade too for that matter. So again, after the longwinded story, the strops seem to yield a pretty good polish and a glass smooth edge where rubbing the thumb across results in little bite. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the CBN and the nano, but don't know really what to think. I'm interested to hear anyone's thoughts.
