It puzzles me, all of the red compound bars/pastes I have used have been coarser then my 0.5 micron chrome oxide and all of the green bars of compound have been coarser than my green 0.5 micron chrome oxide powder. To my knowledge a red compound is made from iron oxide and I have never seen them rated at 1.0 micron or less. Usually 2-3 micron or larger.
We really need to know what is the size of the abrasive grain? Then we can determine where in the honing process this belongs. I have tried a number of abrasive compounds and none have been as fine as the 0.5 micron chrome oxide powder or the 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 micron diamond pastes.
Perhaps these bars give you an edge that agrees with you. But maybe you like a strong/coarse edge?
Just puzzled,
