Buffing compounds on leathers hones

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kta2402

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Feb 25, 2009
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I have some buffing compound that I would like to apply on leather hones from KSF to sharpen/maintain my knives edge. I found some compound at a supply store up in Quebec and it has 4 different bars in it, I'm asking advice as to which compounds to use and which is best for what.

Here are the compounds :

No 11 Tripoli Brown Rouge

No 51 Red Rouge

No 31 White Rouge

No 71 Emery Cake (Black)

thank you in advance.
 
Generally, people go with black on one and green on the other, but seeing as you don't have green I would just go with white. Personally, I like white the most and green comes in a close second.
 
Greetings KTA2402: If the "buffing compound" in question consists of four rock hard bars each 4 1/2" X 1 1/4" X 1" that came sealed in thin plastic, attached to a cardboard backing with instructions for usage numbered 1 through 6, it may be same stuff I tried . If it is, you may wish to give it to someone you don't like. It consists primarily of binding agents (clay) and has WIDELY varying grit size within each bar. It is for use on a power buffing wheel and is of extremely low quality. It can do more damage than good as a dressing for a hand strop. OldDude1
 
Well olddude1 yes it is !

ok then I think I'm going to order the bark river compounds for KSF
 
Good. Higher quality stropping compounds will reward your efforts. You may wish to look into the diamond slurry/spray. The difference in effectiveness, especially on the harder steels is impressive. It is one of those things I wish I used sooner. Good Luck. Olddude1
 
My steels are all S30V and 1095

By the way here is the compound I have

from FORMAX mfg

4-Bar Combination Compound Bar Set
Product # Grade Items in the Kit
515-6268 75-4C 515-6250 Tripoli Brown Rouge - 4oz Bar
515-6251 White Rouge - 4oz. Bar
515-6252 Red Rouge - 4oz. Bar
515-6253 Emery Cake - 4oz. Bar
4-bar_compound_set_out_of_.jpg
 
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KTA2402: Yes, that looks like the same stuff I bought. It was available locally, so I gave it a try on a home made strop. It was a waste of time effort and money. I'm glad someone else can profit from my mistakes. IMO, once an edge is sufficiently sharp to benefit from stropping, uniformity, density and grit size of the medium used to polish the edge makes a substantial difference in the result. OldDude1
 
I bought the green bar of chromium oxide from Sears and used it on a home made strop. I had a very hard time applying it to the strop and ended up melting it in a container with mineral oil so that is was softer. I loaded the strop and never had any luck and sometimes made the knife duller which was very frustrating.

I then bought some 1 and 0.5 micron diamond spray from Hand American. Wow a huge difference. I put each on it's own strop that I bought here on the forums. The diamond spray is one of the most impressive jump in sharpness that I have used in my decent sharpening arsenal. It takes knives to the next level and so far I can pop hairs off above the skin and get a few curlys when trying to whittle hair. I'm sure my knives are not as sharp as some here but they have made a big jump towards the scary sharp stage.

I highly recommend tracking down the diamond spray especially if you are using modern high carbide content steels such as your S30V.
 
I also used a green polishing bar:thumbdn:.
Warmed it with a lighter and applied it to the strop.
Did not really like it and use metal polish now.

Have bought some flitz polish from ksf some weeks ago and this is the brand most knife knuts use:).

For stropping your edge or even polishing the knife.
 
ive been using plain old green hardware store buffing compound. ive had no problem with it and it definately works.
 
Flitz isn't an abrasive as far as I know sure it polishes but I can't get my mind to using it on a strop.

Anyone lnow where in Canada can I put my hands on diamond paste ?
 
Thanks, as you know in Canada its hard to find some products, but here in Quebec its simply impossible
 
I've been using the cheep black and green bars of buffing compound that I bought at Sears for like $3 a piece, and just rubbing them on my strop with no heat, and they seem to work great. I get a nice mirror finish and a great hair popping edge. So I wouldn't say that they are useless, especialy for the money.

-Now I'd like to try out the diamond spray, and the expensive compound from Bark River to see how much of a difference there is! I've been holding off on it since that stuff costs a small fortune. :o

Question: Is there a diamond "spray" and a "paste"? How much difference is there between the two? ...Also in the add I saw they say to use that diamond paste on wood, will it also work on leather so that I can use it on my convexed edges?
 
well I ordered some diamond paste as well as a honing compound for leevalley we'll see how it performs.


Which add are you guys talking about ?
 
kta2402 said:
well I ordered some diamond paste as well as a honing compound for leevalley we'll see how it performs.


Which add are you guys talking about ?
Click to expand...

The one that OldDude made a link to at LeeValley.
 
Oh I see, my thought on this is that whatever you use that can take a coumpound is good enough the diamond paste.
 
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