I got the two sheets from R.Binder, and found that drawing large circles on the coarser one works well, with padding under it. As it gets smooth increase the pressure to wrap the film around as you push into the padding, so you don't get a flat chisel.

But the fine grade is giving me problems. I think I sharpen facets onto it? I can't tell what is happening, only that it doesn't get smooth, even when it feels smooth on the lapping film. It also scrapes the abrasive off the film rather than lapping nicely. I'm wondering if the soft padding does not work on this one?

Any suggestions, both for technique or for understanding what is going on physically at the tip?

--John

Are you using a 30X magnifier? That's the only way to really tell what is happening to the tipping surface. A 10X is ok, but it doesn't give you enough information in regard to where you need to concentrate your smoothing efforts.

I use 20X. I think I need a way to hold it steady, more like a microscope, then hand-holding, to really see anything though. For sharpening chisels I can see if there are deeper scratches than the pattern, and see when it develops the patter for that stone so I know to quit. For inspecting router bits, I'm looking for chips.

On a nib, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to see.