https://scienceofsharp.com/2016/05/29/the-pasted-strop-part-4/comment-page-1/#:~:text=The product is usually described,the vicinity of one micron).
Research to back up my own findings. The more I looked into it, the more I believe Rolls designed both the hone and strop to be quite abrasive. For a regular straight razor, these would be far too coarse.
The Rolls, however, is no ordinary straight razor. It's significantly harder than your average Sheffield steel.
Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound is what is referred to as a 1000 grit polisher.
.3-.5 micron diamond spray is a 10,000 grit polisher, and is what the average straight razor user uses as a typical strop paste (or CrOx).
People have used a number of compounds on the strop, and most quickly go back to using a FeOx based compound, despite the coarseness of such a compound. Experiments with CrOx compound are largely unsuccessful. Chromium Oxide is usually used as a polisher/burnisher, and it cuts so slowly on a Rolls razor, it might as well not even be there.
So harder blade + coarse hone and strop = a super sharp edge?
I'm concerned that it is too rough of an edge, though it smooths out by the second or third shave. It's quite harsh right off the bat, almost Feather blade-like. What I don't know is if it's rough because it's sharp, or because it's got a rough edge from the stropping. What's fine for me, might not be for thee. And I'm trying to find a dead simple method for everyone. The experiment continues.
Edit: Ordered some vintage Rolls Razor Strop Dressing. I need to do a head to head comparison with the rubbing compound, and this will give me a refillable container when it runs out of the Rolls dressing.
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