What grit sandpaper to use?

[Mrbladedude]

My IZULA barely push cuts paper. It has somewhat of a convex edge. What grit sandpaper do you recommend I start with? I plan to finish the blade on a strop with Hand American Diamond Spray.

Suggestions?

Happy Holidays!

 

[richard j]

i convex a lot of knives and i never go over 400 grit.

 

[Mrbladedude]

i convex a lot of knives and i never go over 400 grit.

Why not? Wouldn't you get a much sharper edge off the 2000 grit paper?

 

[richard j]

do you want an edge that will last longer than a few minutes? check out this thread where i put a convex edge on a knfie with no more than a 400 grit belt. it was compared to a knife finished off on fine diamond spray. the guy was so impressed he bought a set of the paper wheels. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9207988&postcount=710

 

[monk3yfist]

I agree w/ Richard. The only time I work up to the 2k-3k grit is to see how shiney I can make it. For my work blades/edc I have a coarser "toothier" edge. I finish them all on a compound loaded strop and I still get them shaving sharp.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

To get it cutting again, I'd start with ~400 grit or so. Take it as far beyond that as you wish, just do it with care & patience. Watch the edge closely, keep the angle conservatively low, and pressure very light. The notion that edges finished to higher grit don't hold up, only highlights use of sloppy technique (rounding off the edge during finishing stages, OR failing to clean up & remove wire edges). Almost all my edges are finished at ~2000+ grit, and they last a LOT longer than a 'few minutes'. Especially so with convex edges.