Compound for my new self made strop?

F

fast eddie

Joined
Nov 8, 2008
Messages
6
I just made a strop by gluing a piece of leather to a board and now want to apply the right compound to the leather. The only thing I have been able to get in this (small) town is sticks of polishing compound from Lowe's for polishing wheels on grinders. They look like giant crayons and I have #1, 2, 3 & 5, with 5 gives the highest polish.

My question is can I possible use one of these on my leather strop? If so, which one is best?
Thanks,

Eddie
 
Ed,
You will need to moisten the leather and then you can just "color" on the leather. Get a good bit rubbed in and then go to town! I have used these types of compound on my carving strops for a LONG time and they work GREAT!

I usually do a two sided strop with "loaded" leather on one side and a piece of smooth plain leather on the other side.

I strop on the plain side every 15 minutes or so when carving and will hit the loaded side every 3-4th time...

Tom
 
Tom,
Thanks. I appreciate the advice. I suspected that these compounds would be ok, but wanted to check with the experts. I'll have a ball doing this tomorrow.

Would you use the #5 compound which is labeled High Gloss or one of the lower numbers?

Eddie
 
fast eddie said:
Tom,
Thanks. I appreciate the advice. I suspected that these compounds would be ok, but wanted to check with the experts. I'll have a ball doing this tomorrow.

Would you use the #5 compound which is labeled High Gloss or one of the lower numbers?

Eddie
Click to expand...

If I recall correctly, Lowes #5 compound is dark green and contains a high content of chrome oxide. That's a good strop compound.
If you dampen the strop with lighter fluid (Zippo , Ronson, etc) the compound will smear on easily, then the lighter fluid will evap, leaving the strop loaded just right.

When the leather loads up with metal from sharpening (turns black and shiny), just wipe the surface with a lighter fluid soaked paper towel, cloth, etc and re-apply the compound...let dry and you're good to go.

You can also make a good "portable/disposable" strop by dampening a piece of manila-folder cardboard with lighter fluid, smear on the compound, even it out with your finger, and let dry. This works great when placed on a hard, smooth surface (like a kitchen counter top).

The "Green" compound from Harbor Freight Tools also works really well.
Although it doesn't have as much Cr2O3 as the Lowes #5, it actually cuts metal faster, and leaves a mirror polished surface also.
 
Mineral oil works great for spreading buffing compound onto a leather strop, too, only it doesn't evaporate so well.
 
I use the big crayon type sticks of polishing compound. Mine is from Sears. I get great results with it.

I use the white first and then the red on a different strop. I just rub it on the strop.
 
Not sure how good it is, but I watched a video on YouTube about stropping and the person was using automotive rubbing compound (the tan stuff) and polishing compound (the whiter stuff).

It seems like either would work as they are abrasives.

Peter
 
flashlife said:
If I recall correctly, Lowes #5 compound is dark green and contains a high content of chrome oxide. That's a good strop compound.
Click to expand...

The large tube from Lowes will also last damned near forever. I've had the same tube for over 5 years and it's still got a lot of life left in it.
 
Thanks everyone. I'll get some lighter fluid tonight for Lowe's 'green' compound. Last night I made another leather strop board and am trying to get a tube of Jewelers rouge for it - but not having much success in this (small) town. Have been to two old style hardware stores but they did not carry it. Am going to Memphis tomorrow & will try there. Any advice on what type store to try. They have a Home Depot.

Eddie
 
Since no one has mentioned it yet, I'll add that you can also try out diamond, CBN, or other more exotic abrasives on your strop. I got the stuff on all mine now.
 
fast eddie said:
Thanks everyone. I'll get some lighter fluid tonight for Lowe's 'green' compound. Last night I made another leather strop board and am trying to get a tube of Jewelers rouge for it - but not having much success in this (small) town. Have been to two old style hardware stores but they did not carry it. Am going to Memphis tomorrow & will try there. Any advice on what type store to try. They have a Home Depot.

Eddie
Click to expand...

Check Sears. I am pretty sure thats where I got mine. I use the dark redish brown for mine... works good! I am going to have to try the green!!


Tom
 
fast eddie said:
Thanks everyone. I'll get some lighter fluid tonight for Lowe's 'green' compound. Last night I made another leather strop board and am trying to get a tube of Jewelers rouge for it - but not having much success in this (small) town. Have been to two old style hardware stores but they did not carry it. Am going to Memphis tomorrow & will try there. Any advice on what type store to try. They have a Home Depot.

Eddie
Click to expand...

The green compound can also be had at Sears or a woodworkers store such as Rocklers. The chrome oxide levels in these will very...

Also, be careful with the lighter fluid as it may harm the finish on any of your wood handled knives.

:)
 
fast eddie said:
Thanks everyone. I'll get some lighter fluid tonight for Lowe's 'green' compound. Last night I made another leather strop board and am trying to get a tube of Jewelers rouge for it - but not having much success in this (small) town. Have been to two old style hardware stores but they did not carry it. Am going to Memphis tomorrow & will try there. Any advice on what type store to try. They have a Home Depot.

Eddie
Click to expand...
At Home Depot, check out the Dremel tool supplies. Dremel sells a small tube of red polishing compound which is jeweler's rouge. Jeweler's rouge is fine iron oxide, brick red in color.
 
Thanks for the Ryobi & Dremel tip. We don't have a Home Depot here but do have a Lowes & they carry both Ryobi & Dremel.

I did check Sears locally & they did have one polishing kit with 4 small compound 'bars'. black (the most coarse) , brown,white & red (the finest) whch looks like jewelers rouge. Anyway the lady said that the bars used to be bigger but Sears only carries the small ones now.

I just made 2 new strops and put the red compound on one & white on the other. So now I have 3 strops. I'll practice & see what results I get.
Thanks again to all, the help has been most useful.
Eddie
 
The old school hardware stores mom and pop styles will usually have the compounds. I really like shopping these type of stores.
 
I use the stuff you find at Lowes. With some alcohol it smoothes on real nice. I made my strop from an old belt I got at the thrift store and a piece of scrap cedar, Works awesome.

I have no difficulty getting that razer edge back on a blade.
 
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