Thread: 5 micron film

I tried shaving off 5 micron abrasive film -- ouch!

After some work with CrOxide on a pasted strop, the edge was usable, but not great.

. Charles

haha yeah thats what i have been shaving off! but i did try sharpening with a slurry and it did get better. once done honing, should i use the rough leather side of my hanging strop or the softer leather side? thank you

The rough leather side of a strop is not for stropping....

Use the smooth side.

Originally Posted by spavis

hi im new to straight razor shaving and am just wondering about sharpening them. i bought a 8000 grit stone from my local woodcraft place and when i use it, it seems to leave bigger scratches in the blade than my 5 micron film i put on top of it. also the blade gets a more mirror like finish with the film. is the 5 micron film fine enough where i can strop it after and be done? or do i need something finer to use before i strop. thank you for the replies- Travis

Woodcraft... the film is good stuff. Note that they have 0.3 micron film as well.

5 micron (similar to a 5000 grit waterstone)
0.3 Micron Aluminum Oxide (similar to an 12000 grit waterstone)

The jump from 5 to 0.3 seems large but film is aggressive
and can bridge the gap just fine.

The film from woodcraft is the lowest cost entry to honing razors I know of.
Combine with a flat granite tile or two from the local tile shop
and also pick up a couple sheets of 15 micron (abut 1K) and you can
take a seriously dull eBay prize from dull to shave ready perhaps with
a kitchen grade bench hone for a very bad blade. I keep some
glass plates handy for Pinnacle Honing Film and because it presents
the razor with a flat as heck surface I have found that it works
well for some difficult str8 razors.

The final 0.3 micron edge is harsh but very sharp. Lather well and use
a light touch for a good shave. So do try the 0.3 micron. Use wet with
a little soapy water to keep the swarf from collecting.

Edit: the film is expensive long term. Keep an eye open
for a Norton 4k/8k at the same shop. But this film will
get ya going.

Something that may explain the apparent coarseness is that those Chinese natural stones do not have an actual grit rating like synthetics & can vary quite a bit.

i just purchased the .3 micron film. when i just from 5 to .3 do i use the normal stroke, by only pushing the blade? thank you for all the replies by the way. the shave is getting better by the day!

Originally Posted by spavis

i just purchased the .3 micron film. when i just from 5 to .3 do i use the normal stroke, by only pushing the blade? thank you for all the replies by the way. the shave is getting better by the day!

Yes normal hone strokes.

Yes you can do circles and other strokes... But at 0.3 micron the edge must already be set so normal pushing hone strokes perhaps with a X or swoop will do.

ok because i was thinking that going from 5 to .3 would take forever. guess ill just have to try circles, then normal strokes and see what gives the better shave. i was also wondering, if im supposed to use the smooth side of my strop, why does it have the rougher leather side on it? its a hanging strop, that has 2 handles on it. one side is a tan, leather colored side, that has a rougher feel and look to it. the other side is black and a lot smoother. what is each side used for? thank you

Originally Posted by spavis

ok because i was thinking that going from 5 to .3 would take forever. guess ill just have to try circles, then normal strokes and see what gives the better shave. i was also wondering, if im supposed to use the smooth side of my strop, why does it have the rougher leather side on it? its a hanging strop, that has 2 handles on it. one side is a tan, leather colored side, that has a rougher feel and look to it. the other side is black and a lot smoother. what is each side used for? thank you

Not to worry, the 0.3 micron bits will do fine after the 5 micron grit. 10-20 normal
hone strokes will do the trick.

Tell me more about the strop.
In general you will be using the smooth side.
For some it is a preference. The split side
will strop just fine. Some folk apply an abrasive
strop paste to the split side. But with a 0.3 micron
finish from your film you will not need much if any.
0.5 or 0.25 micron diamond spray is common but not
necessary.

Use the split side as you would canvas. Ten to 20
laps on the split side then 25 - 50 on the smooth side.
This cleans the razor before it gets stropped.

GO SLOW on the strop.