Lapping Film, Diamond emulsion questions

Question guys. Looking for a cheaper alternative to ultra fine grit stones.  I have some experience with 2k and 3k lapping films but nothing really higher. Looking for some around 1 micron, .5 .25 basically as high a grit or low micron as I can get. 

So let's talk lapping films and diamond spray compounds.  What have you used ,what do you like and where'd you get it? A friend made me a kangaroo strop preloaded with .5 micron diamonds and I must say it was the finest strop I ever used until I cut it! Roo basically has no effect on its on but responds very well to compounds. Don't really want to get into ethics about the kangaroo hide I'd rather keep it about abrasives. Input appreciated.

Just google lapping film you can buy it from many online retailers, plus damond sprays can be purchased from Lynn at Straight razor designs.

I've got a dealer that has all of them, guess my post was a little broad. More wondering how are the performance on the films to certain waterstones, how many uses can you get out of a film? 

I know the films I've used before I would clean them and they actually lasted a decent amount of time but again we are talking 2,000 and 3,000 and the ones I used (have no idea the brand) the 2,000 polished more like a 6-8k and the 3,000 performed like a 10-12k . The 2k was blue 3k yellow

Here's a very good UK store that sell lots of scary sharpening lapping film kits. http://www.workshopheaven.com/tools/3M-S...-Pack.html

I mounted the films before on an aluminum blank designed for that purpose so it's supposed to be flat down to a couple thou.

Any benefits to glass over aluminum?  Also if you do use films here's a little trick, I can't take credit for either but they work.

If you'll pit some dish soap and just a dab I mean a drop or 2 where your honing it prevents them from loading as easy and it also polishes a little higher.

Also if you take some metal polish, I've used neva-dull, mothers and flitz but flitz Is abrasive. Not bad but I wouldn't use it on the higher grits.  Anyhow take a tiny bit of metal polish and rub it on the films and it will polish a little higher than the soapy water .  
You can get 3 different levels of polish if you play around with them a little bit. 

I'm not going to post a link or anything but Jamie check out Jendi industries ,or specifically Ken Swartz. He makes some diamond emulsions, cuts waterstones down to say a barbers hone (SHAPTON AND CHOSERA) also hes the north American importer of nubabtama.

There are two long threads many years going on SRP about lapping film.  You're talking about two different things, lapping film and pastes or sprays.  Sprays and pastes for strops for very fine grit can be used on felt, leather, balsa and nano cloth.

The higher the micron number the coarser the grit, so you can start a bevel with 30 micron or 15 or 12 micron lapping film and then you go from there to 9 to 5 to 3 to 1 and then 0.50 micron (equivalent to chromium oxide paste or spray), 0.3 and 0.125.  Diamond sprays are usually  025.  

For the film you can get a cheap one foot square "marble" piece that is smooth, spray water on the marble, place the film on the marble and then spray the film.  Start with 60 laps with each grade and see where the edge is.

There are many places to buy lapping film and the pastes online.

I have tried lapping films with mixed results & I think I may need to revisit them now that I have more experience in honing & stropping. I really need to find some good float glass as I don't feel I had a really flat even substrate to start on like above, may just get a piece of marble floor tile.
 I got a 1K-6k King water hone, a 3K-8K Chinese hone & a 10K Chinese finish hone along with a small vintage Coti for Christmas & I am really working with those & having good results. Many put down the lower price Chinese stones but I have found with progressive lapping I am getting much better edges than I thought I could. Being on disability with lot's of free time & a wife who let's me indulge in avocations. I am pretty free to experiment & I am having a blast doing it. My next quest for information will be about Wedge razors & near wedges. When I start forging again these are the type razors I want to build. O-1 & pattern welded blades are what I want to make. I really enjoy making cable "Damascus" from good hoisting or crane cable. Also forge welding shear steal to a wrought iron body might be fun. I also need to build a good 2" X 72" belt grinder or get a used one to finish grind my blades. 
 OOPS , sorry to get so far off the track. Learning about razors & there care & maintenace is just all consumeing for me.

 Slawman

(03-04-2016, 07:07 PM)lindyhop66 Wrote: There are two long threads many years going on SRP about lapping film.  You're talking about two different things, lapping film and pastes or sprays.  Sprays and pastes for strops for very fine grit can be used on felt, leather, balsa and nano cloth.

The higher the micron number the coarser the grit, so you can start a bevel with 30 micron or 15 or 12 micron lapping film and then you go from there to 9 to 5 to 3 to 1 and then 0.50 micron (equivalent to chromium oxide paste or spray), 0.3 and 0.125.  Diamond sprays are usually  025.  

For the film you can get a cheap one foot square "marble" piece that is smooth, spray water on the marble, place the film on the marble and then spray the film.  Start with 60 laps with each grade and see where the edge is.

There are many places to buy lapping film and the pastes online.

Lapping film, diamond paste . That's how I wrote the title as in let's talk about both never said they were the same.

And diamond emulsion is not equal to chromium oxide at the same grit. A diamond spray at .5 micron is more abrasive than chromium oxide at the same grit.

(03-05-2016, 06:12 AM)Slawman Wrote: I have tried lapping films with mixed results & I think I may need to revisit them now that I have more experience in honing & stropping. I really need to find some good float glass as I don't feel I had a really flat even substrate to start on like above, may just get a piece of marble floor tile.
 I got a 1K-6k King water hone, a 3K-8K Chinese hone & a 10K Chinese finish hone along with a small vintage Coti for Christmas & I am really working with those & having good results. Many put down the lower price Chinese stones but I have found with progressive lapping I am getting much better edges than I thought I could. Being on disability with lot's of free time & a wife who let's me indulge in avocations. I am pretty free to experiment & I am having a blast doing it. My next quest for information will be about Wedge razors & near wedges. When I start forging again these are the type razors I want to build. O-1 & pattern welded blades are what I want to make. I really enjoy making cable "Damascus" from good hoisting or crane cable. Also forge welding shear steal to a wrought iron body might be fun. I also need to build a good 2" X 72" belt grinder or get a used one to finish grind my blades. 
 OOPS , sorry to get so far off the track. Learning about razors & there care & maintenace is just all consumeing for me.

 Slawman

My Chinese river stone is nowhere near 12k . I've had 3 of them and the 2nd was this one I have now leaves a scratch pattern like a 4k shapton glass.

You like grinders? You tube mick striders sofa king grinder.

My Chinese are man made water stones. Sorry for the mix up.