Recommendation? 3 strop system and compounds or spray

[mailliw22]

I'm about to get the worksharp professional adjust. I was gonna get some after market products for stones and strops. I was wondering if a 3 strop system would be more beneficial for a mirror polish, coarse edge, and fine edge than a 2 or 1 strop system. I currently use swayed cow leather and im thinking about using kangaroo. Whats the best leather to use. I'm planning to use 6 stones. Varying the amount of stones I use for which ever edge I'm doing. Another thing I was wondering is should I use a spray or compound. I currently use jendi compounds. I have a 2 1 and .5 micron. I was thinking about buying gunny juice or dmt spray. Or are they both good for different edges.

 

[Kryme]

Best leather to use is one with the least give, but that can still absorb compound. The leather you want firm so it doesn't round off the apex, it's why some people would use porous wood like balsa instead. As for compounds you want diamond ideally or the closest to it, especially if you're going to be polishing higher end steels. Many compounds are aluminum oxide, which for those high wear resistance steels just won't cut it, literally lol.

 

[Twindog]

I think you're better off with just one strop. All you're doing with a stop is refining the very apex. That refinement doesn't take much, as long as the apex is keen and burr-free off the stones.

Stropping is both an art and a science. Different substrates require different techniques. If you match your technique to the apex, you're golden.