Micron vs Grit
You'll see that we bounce between micron and grit when discussing our abrasive handles and stropping compounds. Both of these measurements are used to determine how coarse or fine a material is. Grit is measured in how many individual particles can fit through a 1 square inch filter. Micron is a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter (a micrometer). When determining grit, the larger the number the finer the material. For microns, the smaller the number the finer the material.
When determining your abrasive progression, you'll always want to move from the hardest material to softest. The progression should always follow this order:
Diamond > Ceramics > Lapping Films > Strops > Kangaroo
Abrasives and steps can be omitted and your personal progression may look like this:
Diamond > Lapping Films > Strops
The progression with your abrasives will usually be moving from coarsest to finest, but that won't always be true. For example, if you finish with the 2200 Grit Diamond Stone (9-microns), you would still use the 14-Micron Diamond Paste afterwards. It's technically a step backwards in the grit/micron progression, but the softer leather should come after the harder Diamond Stones.
Below are two charts that break down the grit/micron progression of our abrasive line-up. The first chart simply shows the order of our abrasives from coarsest to finest. It is not meant to show Wicked Edge's suggested sharpening progression. The second chart shows the actual progression you would use. You do not need, or necessarily want, every step in the listed progression. This is simply a tool to help you determine where you may want to go next as you add on to your Wicked Edge Sharpening System.
Check
out this article for more information about which abrasive progression is best for your knives.
Wicked Edge Grit/Micron Order Chart
This chart is not our suggested sharpening progression, it is simply showing the order of grits from coarsest to finest.
Product | Grit | Micron |
|---|
50 Grit Diamond Stone | 50 | 275 |
|---|
80 Grit Diamond Stone | 80 | 185 |
|---|
100 Grit Diamond Stone | 100 | 150 |
200 Grit Diamond Stone | 200 | 125 |
400 Grit Diamond Stone | 400 | 75 |
600 Grit Diamond Stone | 600 | 40 |
800 Grit Diamond Stone | 800 | 30 |
1000 Grit Diamond Stone | 1,000 | 17 |
1200 Grit Ceramic Stone | 1,200 | 15 |
14-Micron Diamond Paste | 1,300 | 14 |
1500 Grit Diamond Stone | 1,500 | 12 |
1600 Grit Ceramic Stone | 1,600 | 11 |
10-Micron Diamond Paste | 1,900 | 10 |
2200 Grit Diamond Stone | 2,200 | 9 |
9-Micron Lapping Film | 2,200 | 9 |
3000 Grit Diamond Stone | 3,000 | 6 |
6-Micron Lapping Film | 3,000 | 6 |
5-Micron Diamond Paste | 4,000 | 5 |
4-Micron Diamond Emulsion | 5,000 | 4 |
3.5-Micron Diamond Paste | 6,500 | 3.5 |
3-Micron Lapping Film | 7,000 | 3 |
2-Micron Diamond Emulsion | 10,000 | 2 |
1.5-Micron Lapping Film | 13,000 | 1.5 |
1-Micron Lapping Film | 14,000 | 1 |
1-Micron Diamond Paste/Emulsion | 14,000 | 1 |
1-Micron Diamond Spray | 14,000 | 1 |
0.5-Micron Diamond Paste/Emulsion | 50,000 | 0.5 |
0.5-Micron Diamond Spray | 50,000 | 0.5 |
0.25-Micron Diamond Spray | 100,000 | 0.25 |
0.25-Micron Polycrystalline Diamond Emulsion by Gunny Juice | 100,000 | 0.25 |
0.1-Micron Lapping Film | 250,000 | 0.1 |
0.10-Micron Polycrystalline Diamond Emulsion by Gunny Juice | 250,000 | 0.1 |
Wicked Edge Grit/Micron Progression Chart
This chart breaks down the progression from hardest material to softest. This is the chart you should use to determine which product would come next in your progression.
Product | Grit | Micron |
|---|
50 Grit Diamond Stone | 50 | 275 |
|---|
80 Grit Diamond Stone | 80 | 185 |
|---|
100 Grit Diamond Stone | 100 | 150 |
200 Grit Diamond Stone | 200 | 125 |
400 Grit Diamond Stone | 400 | 75 |
600 Grit Diamond Stone | 600 | 40 |
800 Grit Diamond Stone | 800 | 30 |
1000 Grit Diamond Stone | 1,000 | 17 |
1500 Grit Diamond Stone | 1,500 | 12 |
2200 Grit Diamond Stone | 2,200 | 9 |
3000 Grit Diamond Stone | 3,000 | 6 |
1200 Grit Ceramic Stone | 1,200 | 15 |
1600 Grit Ceramic Stone | 1,600 | 11 |
9-Micron Lapping Film | 2,200 | 9 |
6-Micron Lapping Film | 3,000 | 6 |
3-Micron Lapping Film | 7,000 | 3 |
1.5-Micron Lapping Film | 13,000 | 1.5 |
1-Micron Lapping Film | 14,000 | 1 |
0.1-Micron Lapping Film | 250,000 | 0.1 |
14-Micron Diamond Paste | 1,300 | 14 |
10-Micron Diamond Paste | 1,900 | 10 |
5-Micron Diamond Paste | 4,000 | 5 |
4-Micron Diamond Emulsion | 5,000 | 4 |
3.5-Micron Diamond Paste | 6,500 | 3.5 |
2-Micron Diamond Emulsion | 10,000 | 2 |
1-Micron Diamond Paste/Emulsion | 14,000 | 1 |
1-Micron Diamond Spray | 14,000 | 1 |
0.5-Micron Diamond Paste/Emulsion | 50,000 | 0.5 |
0.5-Micron Diamond Spray | 50,000 | 0.5 |
0.25-Micron Diamond Spray | 100,000 | 0.25 |
0.25-Micron Polycrystalline Diamond Emulsion by Gunny Juice | 100,000 | 0.25 |
0.10-Micron Polycrystalline Diamond Emulsion by Gunny Juice | 250,000 | 0.1 |