I've been on a roll with my SE GEM blade. I've been hand stopping with some success but wanted to do some further sharpening and testing. I have access to some very fine diamond sanding paper that's used at work for polishing fiber optic connectors. Yesterday using a strop tool that came with my GEM Damaskeene I decided to attempt a sharpening. I used one of the ultra fine papers. Will see on tomorrow's shave if my stropping was successful. Here is the stropping tool below. Picture on left and tool on right. Injector & SE Party !!! Tool assembled on right picture. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/injector-se-party.23113/page-569#post-1115190
Saturday morning rolled around and I was excited to try my newly stopped blade. Face lathered, blade in razor and the first downward stroke from cheekbone to chin. OK blade is gliding but no to little hair is being cut, try another few strokes umm same result. Conclusion I dulled the blade, not sharpened it. Technique or material don't know but going to chalk this one up as a failure. Try a different stropping material, change technique or just give up trying to sharpen these Gem blades ? Verdict still out.
