DMT diamond paste

C

ctk123

Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
385
Hey guys, I have a question. I'm about to place an order with knifeworks, getting a couple things that I'm needing (and a couple I don't).

I'm looking at the DMT 1 micron paste for my strop. Problem Is I only have one strop, and it's loaded with green compound.

Question is, can I just apply the DMT paste on top? Would it be better/possible to remove the green compound first?

Thanks for any and all help!
 
I think most of the hardcore sharpening nuts around here would cringe/cry/flee in terror (:eek:), if some nice, new 1 micron diamond paste were applied to a used/green/dirty strop. I haven't tried the DMT paste yet, but if it were me, I'd reserve it for a strop that's new/clean/pristine. The benefits of the diamond are worth making sure it's the ONLY abrasive at work on your strop. Don't want it to be lost or diminished in the 'mud' of your other compound.

It wouldn't be too costly to either make a new strop with some veg-tanned leather on a piece of wood, or remove the leather from your existing strop and replace it with a fresh piece.
 
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Thanks Dave, Looks like I will be ordering a new strop or some leather at least. I wish I could get it all from one place, but I can wait on the strop, re-profiling this M4 is taking forever!! seems the closer I get, the longer it takes!
 
ctk123 said:
Thanks Dave, Looks like I will be ordering a new strop or some leather at least. I wish I could get it all from one place, but I can wait on the strop, re-profiling this M4 is taking forever!! seems the closer I get, the longer it takes!
Click to expand...

If the new strop has to wait a bit, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I do believe it'll be worth it, and taking things slow & easy will be better for your sharpening job in the end. Sometimes these small delays can be a blessing. Trying to rush the job will usually end with disappointing results. Steady as she goes...
 
You can remove the green compound by scraping it off with a razor (if you don't mind raising the nap), rubbing it off with a rag, and also using something like mineral oil as a solvent.

Or you can put the diamond compound right over it. If it is high quality CrO, then it is an average 0.5 micron chromium oxide, which is smaller and softer than the one micron diamond particles. The leather already has small silicates in it, yet we don't have a problem using leather to begin with.
 
well after receiving the paste and reading the directions, it seems that it is not recommended to apply it to leather that is commonly used for CrO, as the leather will "soak up" the diamonds quickly.

One of the recommended materials to use is MDF, which my strop is mounted on (knives plus strop block), so I will probably just use that and see how it turns out.
 
DMT paste will work,

Good - on leather and produce a finer finish.

Better - on balsa wood or MDF but at 1 micron the finish can sometimes show the scratch pattern.

Best (IMO) - on hardwood, clearest finish and sharpest edge.
 
Sorry to bump my dead thread, but I just thought I'd wrap it up with a conclusion:

I went to my local WoodCraft shop, and found some very pricey strops, I'm talking $40 for a piece of leather glued to a block of wood!!

But what I walked away with was a $15 sheet of Hand American stropping leather, enough to make about 4 good size strops! So I glued it to a block of wood myself with some spray adhesive, added the DMT diamond paste, and couldn't be happier! great results for me, and that Hand American leather is top notch!
 
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