What's lapping film? kind of confused as it looks like sand paper and I can't really find any on eBay which looks like what you are talking about.Look up lapping film. Pennies ( compared to honing stones about 10-12 nok ) per sheet. I so hope I got the conversion right.
How does this compare to stones? and do I only need #4000 and #8000 grit?Google " cousinsuk " and look for lapping film or Google lapping film and cousinsuk will come up. It's just like very fine sandpaper. Needs a flat base to use it, plate glass granite etc
How does this compare to stones? and do I only need #4000 and #8000 grit?
This will also be way more expensive for me as Norway has really messed up customs where on any non VOEC registered company you need to pay about 20$+ 25% extra of the product and shipping, it is really stupid so this might be almost as expensive as it would be for me to get at least one Naniwa whet stone (only one they had on the website I was looking at)
Do they perform as well? And if I manage to score on the razor it self I might be able to justify spending 120£ on the stonesI might have got my currency conversion wrong. ie for a £60 stone you can get about 20 sheets of film and each sheet can be cut to 3 stone sizes. So much cheaper
Alright thanks, I see that you are from Sweden, where would you recommend buying lapping films from?I would suggest buying a shave ready vintage straight razor when the BST forum reopens. The main thing to look for is shave ready. Add to that a paddle strop and two 3M lapping films, pink and light green, to keep edge shave ready. (maybe exercise stropping using your shavette (no blade) to get the feel for it before stropping straight razor)
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If you can find a piece of leather for cheap a DIY strop can save money, making a paddle strop is easy and a bench strop (paddle strop without handle) even easier.
Get yourself a polished tile that is 8â€x3†and cut the films to size. Then under the 1 micron film after you use it, put some wet white paper and use it again. After that you strop the razor and you are good to go. There is a good thread on it. If you want, pm me so I can sent it to you. It is on another forum...
also get a cheap strop. The first one you will damage and it will be and expensive learning if you buy an expensive strop.
Thanks lads, definitely gonna be helpful this!You don't need to spend any where near that amount of money, all you need to get started is a shave ready razor (go vintage, cheaper, and quite often better) budget £50 for that, and a reasonable paddle strop, say another £35, perhaps some chromium oxide strop paste for one side of the strop, less than £5 and you're good to go.
Unless you really want to start honing then why worry about that for the moment, razors can be sent out to be honed a quite a reasonable price, and even if you want be able to re-fresh your own edge, as others have said, lapping film is an inexpensive way to achieve that with very good results.
On UK Ebay seller billyji1 does excellent restored razors, a little bit expensive but truly excellent edges, very knowledgeable and very helpful, and also a range of strops. I'm sure he would be able to help you out.
Thank you Bazz. Your advice inspired me to check out Billy's listing on eBay. I asked him for a little advice too. As a result, I have just ordered my first straight razor and a strop.You don't need to spend any where near that amount of money, all you need to get started is a shave ready razor (go vintage, cheaper, and quite often better) budget £50 for that, and a reasonable paddle strop, say another £35, perhaps some chromium oxide strop paste for one side of the strop, less than £5 and you're good to go.
Unless you really want to start honing then why worry about that for the moment, razors can be sent out to be honed a quite a reasonable price, and even if you want be able to re-fresh your own edge, as others have said, lapping film is an inexpensive way to achieve that with very good results.
On UK Ebay seller billyji1 does excellent restored razors, a little bit expensive but truly excellent edges, very knowledgeable and very helpful, and also a range of strops. I'm sure he would be able to help you out.
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