I am new and I have some questions about diamond paste. First, how or do you add to the paste in order to spread it evenly and to get it to cover at least 3/4 of my strop (which is 2.5 x 12") second, do I use the rough or smooth side of the leather. I got the diamond paste at real cheap price at an auction of a wood carver. There very high quality because I checked them out. I could not have afforded them at retail. Any suggestions would be great. I am not a master sharpener but I do understand the basics but I have been reading some posts and there were some abbreviated things I didn't know. it was mdf or mpf. thanks
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diamond paste
- Thread starter tziegler
- Start date
Could someone please tell how to apply diamond paste to a leather strop. Like what liquid to use to spread the paste with, cause I only have 5 grams of each. Also should I use the rough or smooth side of the leather strop. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
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Just a BB-sized dab (~1/8" diameter) of it every 2" - 3" or so on the leather, should do. To spread it, a thin & flexible plastic ruler works well, used like a putty knife. It'll more uniformly distribute the compound in an even thickness, and you'll probably notice that a good bit of extra paste will collect on the ruler. Just so long as there's an even, complete and THIN coat of it on the leather, that'll be plenty. You might just apply & spread one dot at a time, so you don't have too much excess left over (I've tended to do this too often
). If using the DMT paste, not to worry; that little syringe of it will last a long time, when applied properly (that's to say, minimally).You don't have to use any other liquid to spread it. Though, if you want to, some mineral oil may work for that.
David
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before you apply the diamond paste, dress the strop first. That will prevent the paste from soaking directly in and allow it to spread thinner and more evenly. You can dress with proper strop dressing (I use Fromms) or just oil. Let the strop sit overnight after dressing and then apply the diamond paste the next day. A little goes a long way, a tiny dab on one side to start and spread it around. Then another. It won't take more than a few dabs. 5 grams of diamond paste is a ton.
If you don't have access to Fromm's strop dressing, ordinary neutral shoe cream (NOT shoe polish!) will take care of your strop, and can be found almost anywhere shoes are sold. A finger tip dipped in it, then rubbed into the leather once or twice a year will keep your strop happy forever. Don't worry about applying shoe cream over strops that are already used. Just scrape/clean them up a bit, then apply the shoe cream. It will still be absorbed into the leather and revitalize it. Just don't over use it. A little dab'll do ya.
Stitchawl
Stitchawl
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Mineral oil is an easy-to-manage suspension for dry compounds, for application to a strop. Many paste/oil-based compounds are mixed using mineral oil or petrolatum, a.k.a. petroleum jelly, anyway. If applying to leather, it could even be mixed with leather conditioner/cream or other leather treatment.
I like using mineral oil to apply the dry compounds I use (green & silicon carbide). The 'USP' grade (laxative) mineral oil works well for this, and the mix can then be 'painted' directly onto a strop using a small paint brush. Real easy application, and easier to make it uniform as well.
BTW, the question above, about grit size/uniformity is a valid one. If your diamond dust is too coarse or too irregular in consistency, all of this may not be worth the trouble anyway, for stropping purposes. Edit: Though, if you have it, it never hurts to try it out. Sometimes you get lucky.
David
I like using mineral oil to apply the dry compounds I use (green & silicon carbide). The 'USP' grade (laxative) mineral oil works well for this, and the mix can then be 'painted' directly onto a strop using a small paint brush. Real easy application, and easier to make it uniform as well.
BTW, the question above, about grit size/uniformity is a valid one. If your diamond dust is too coarse or too irregular in consistency, all of this may not be worth the trouble anyway, for stropping purposes. Edit: Though, if you have it, it never hurts to try it out. Sometimes you get lucky.
David
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If "I" were doing it, I'd get a tin of neutral shoe cream at the local department store or shoe shop. 'Cream,' not wax polish. I'd put it into a bowl and lightly sprinkle some dust onto the top, then mix very well. Then I'd add more dust and mix again. You must add the dust slowly to insure that it doesn't clump up. Repeat until you've added enough dust to change the color of the cream. This will, of course, vary with the size of the original tin. You do NOT need to make a thick sludge out of it. And when you put it on your strop, do so sparingly. A few pea-sized dots every few inches, rubbed out with your thumb, should work very well, and last at least a hundred or more sharpening sessions. Please let us know how it turns out.
Stitchawl
This is how I would do it too. Also consider just using a portion of your shoe cream and keep track of the amount of dust you use. That will allow for tweaking to the recipe for different results hopefully.
Please do let us know how it goes for you and also what kind of diamond dust are you using?