Wicked Edge Grit and Micron Order Chart
Micron vs Grit
You'll see that we bounce between microns 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 mesh filter. A 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 the softest. The progression should always follow this order:
Diamond > Ceramics > Lapping Films > Strops > Kangaroo Strops
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 3 Micron Lapping Film, you could still use the 4 Micron Diamond Emulsion afterward. It's technically a step backward 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 | Magnified Image (Broken-In Diamond Stones, M390 Steel) |
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 | |
30 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 800 | 30 | |
1000 Grit Diamond Stone | 1000 | 17 | |
| 15 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 1,200 | 15 | |
14 Micron Diamond Paste | 1,300 | 14 | |
1500 Grit Diamond Stone | 1,500 | 12 | |
10 Micron Diamond Paste | 1,900 | 10 | |
2200 Grit Diamond Stone | 2,200 | 9 | |
9 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 2,200 | 9 | |
3000 Grit Diamond Stone | 3,000 | 6 | |
6 Micron Diamond 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 Diamond Lapping Film | 7,000 | 3 | |
2 Micron Diamond Paste | 10,000 | 2 | |
1.5 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 13,000 | 1.5 | |
1 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 14,000 | 1 | |
1 Micron Diamond Paste / Emulsion | 14,000 | 1 | |
0.5 Micron Diamond Paste / Emulsion | 50,000 | 0.5 | |
0.25 Micron Polycrystalline Diamond Emulsion by Gunny Juice | 100,000 | 0.25 | |
0.1 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 250,000 | 0.1 | |
0.1. 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. For example, if you finish with the 1500 Grit Diamond Stone, you could continue with the 2200 Grit Diamond Stone, 9 Micron Diamond Lapping Film, or the 5 Micron Diamond Paste.
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 |
30 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 800 | 30 |
15 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 1,200 | 15 |
9 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 2,200 | 9 |
6 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 3,000 | 6 |
3 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 7,000 | 3 |
1.5 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 13,000 | 1.5 |
1 Micron Diamond Lapping Film | 14,000 | 1 |
0.1 Micron Diamond 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 Paste / Emulsion | 14,000 | 1 |
0.5 Micron Diamond Paste / Emulsion | 50,000 | 0.5 |
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 |
Related Articles
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Progression for Creating a Mirror Edge
A mirror finish has other benefits besides just looking good. The biggest benefit can be seen in any sort of push-cutting task. The highly refined edge and polished bevel allows your blade to practically fall through whatever you're cutting. Some ...What’s the Right Progression for Me?
This is a common question we get asked a lot! Luckily, we have a few key points to help you figure out when you’ve hit your stopping point for sharpening and when you may want to add a few more steps. Working Edge: What’s a working edge? When someone ...Choosing Your Edge Kit
Choosing the correct lineup of accessories is just as important, if not more important, than choosing your sharpener. Every Wicked Edge sharpener is able to get you the same results... it's the abrasive lineup that you use that determines what your ...Wicked Edge Cobalt - WE64 Knife Sharpener instructions
Watch the playlist below for instructions on how to set up and use your Wicked Edge Cobalt WE64 knife sharpener. WE64 instructions 01 Setup WE64 Instructions 02 Safety WE64 Instructions 03 Mounting The Knife WE64 Instructions 04 How to Find Your ...Wicked Edge GO - WE60 Knife Sharpener Instructions
How to Set Up Your Wicked Edge GO - WE60 Precision Knife Sharpener How to Sharpen Safely How to Use the Vise How to Find Your Angle and Sweet Spot How to create a Burr How to Sharpen on the WE60 How to Touch Up Your Knife