Lapping film

I put feet on my piece of glass to mimic honing stone.
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In Nylons..:D:D

Billy
 
Can anyone advise a good UK source for something on which to mount lapping film? I've been using a piece of marble but it isn't ideal. Have heard people mention acrylic blocks, but I can't find a source for these.

I got a piece off of ebay, A4 sized, 10mm thick which I got into 4 equal pieces then just sanded the edges down to smooth. Just search for 'Acrylic sheet' on the bay.
 
Next to satellite phones and electronic navigation systems, I consider lapping film as one of the major most useful inventions of our century and would recommend it to anyone as entry tool for learning how to hone a straight razor. For my personal experience, lapping film works best, if you have some slight cushion between the film itself and the surface of the carrier. Of course this cushion should not be too soft. I use a solid rubber mat of approx. 1mm thickness that I found in a shop for modelmaking supplies.
As I already mentioned, if you like to learn this task, have a look at the video clips at this site. Even if you don't use natural stones like the coticules from Belgium, the way you guide the razor with your hand during the honig process is important. Maybe you will find it difficult and cumbersome but it's a learning process and later you hone your straight razor and switch it from side to side with the same easiness as if you spread marmelade over your breakfast bread. And you wouldn't use both hands holding your knife for this, would you? ;)

http://coticule.be/
 
Next to satellite phones and electronic navigation systems, I consider lapping film as one of the major most useful inventions of our century and would recommend it to anyone as entry tool for learning how to hone a straight razor. For my personal experience, lapping film works best, if you have some slight cushion between the film itself and the surface of the carrier. Of course this cushion should not be too soft. I use a solid rubber mat of approx. 1mm thickness that I found in a shop for modelmaking supplies.
As I already mentioned, if you like to learn this task, have a look at the video clips at this site. Even if you don't use natural stones like the coticules from Belgium, the way you guide the razor with your hand during the honig process is important. Maybe you will find it difficult and cumbersome but it's a learning process and later you hone your straight razor and switch it from side to side with the same easiness as if you spread marmelade over your breakfast bread. And you wouldn't use both hands holding your knife for this, would you? ;)

http://coticule.be/

Thanks for the advice- I'll try that as well.
 
YMMV but personally I find two-handed honing works well and furthermore I am not using any extra cushion just the film as is on a welsh slate stone. When I first started honing I tested using a sheet of moist paper as cushion finishing on 1 micron film but found it a bit messy and gave up the routine.
 
Moist paper is too soft. I know there are some People recommending this but I don't because of the results you describe. I tried different things and I found a thin layer of solid rubber (not rubber foam) most usable. It provides the right amount of flexibility for the given pressure and allows full contact of the blades edge.
 
You Dont Really Need a Cushion with 1 Micron Film..It has Plenty of Cushion on Glass..0.5 Micron Film..Yes..I Dont Use it Anymore..1 Micron = 16 K Film Can Knock Out a Very Smooth Edge Up to 20 K and Maybe then Some..Its Cuts & Polishes with the Lightest of Strokes because its So Well Cushioned..Super Flat & Level is the Hallmark of Lapping Film..In My Books Anyway..:)

Billy
 
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