Thank you all for the advice. I would like to clarify a few things after reading your replies.

I understand the the sandpaper (P2500 as my sandpaper finisher) is on a different scale then the ceramics are measured. If I was going from P2500 to super fine (1200/1600 grit) then I believe i would bo going backwards. But since i don't have the super fines (yet), i am jumping to what i do have (micro fine) (1.4/0.6 micron). So I think I am going from a rougher grit (p2500) down to a micro fine 1.4/0.6 micron.

On the "rubbing" the ceramics together, i would like to clarify if i am rubbing the micro's together (course to course and fine to fine) and/or ceramics to diamond stones. Sorry for all the questions. It makes sense they may need flattening becuase I can see the more mirrored polish (after micro find ceramics) but only on a small portion of the entire edge (from the P2500 clean edge). Pretty much in the center of the entire edge. I am thinking, in the micros current state if i did 1000 passes then they might eventually hit the entire edge.

Thanks again for the responses.
Derek

So I am pretty new to the WE product and love it. I have watched a ton of videos and have sharpened around 10 knives over the past week or so. Lets take a reprofile for this example and I am hoping someeone might be able to help me with what I am doing wrong.

Start with 100, create the bur just fine, then on thru to 1000. All is well and the edge looks great with my untrained eyes. Since I haven't recieved my super fine ceramics I am using sandpaper, 1000, 1500, 2000 and finishing off with 2500. At this point the edge looks super viewing with a loupe. To me it's just a great edge.

Here is where I must be doing something wrong. I go to the micro fine ceramics (course then fine) because I have them and figured it would only enhance what i already had to that point. This is were the edge, in my opinion, goes from very clean to no so good. Not sure how to describe no so good but it has way more scratches and only some areas that seemed to getting better. Just inconsistant. I then go to strops 5, 3.5 , 1mu and 0.5 mu and that recovers a bit, the edge i just seemed to degrade with the micro fine ceramics.

Last night I did the same process but skipped the micro fine ceramics, straigt to the strops and it was my best edge by far. Beautiful mirror and very sharp indeed. I could not find any flaws (like with the ceramics) but am new to this so someone else who is not a novice proably would have seeen several things they didn't like. I was extrememly happy with the result.

Maybe I am not using enough pressure or strokes with the ceramics or something else. Should I be using up and forward, forward and back, up and down or a combination with these micro fine's. I will be replacing the sandpaper routine as soon as the super fine ceramics show up. Although I am extremely happy with the sandpaper but it's kind of a pain apply them.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Derek

Hello,

After a quick search on this subject i see references to both "denatured" and "rubbing" alcohol". Should rubbing or denatured alcohol be used as they have many similar properties?

Thank you,
Derek