DMT Diapaste & strop

Bladenoobie1

Bladenoobie1

Joined
Jul 20, 2012
Messages
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I want to invest money in a new strop and along with it, some diamond compound. The sprays are a bit too pricey for me and as for strops, regular cowhide is all I really can and will invest in for the time being.

That said, I'm considering purchasing some 1 micron DMT diapaste. My question is, what kind of strop or surface will it work best on? Would a $20 stropman suffice or should I be looking into something like balsa wood?

- BN
 
DMT has even suggested balsa for it. I'm inclined to agree. Lacking that, any smooth & tight-grained wood can work as well. Might look at hobby/craft stores for balsa and/or basswood. It can be found in convenient pre-cut sizes perfect for strops (2"-4" widths, 1/4"-1/2" thicknesses, up to 24" length or more). Many have also used MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) for this, though that stuff usually has to be purchased in large sheets at home centers & lumber yards, unless you're fortunate enough to have some scraps laying about.


David
 
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I am currently using the back of a $1 wood ruler because it is the only thing I can get around here. Just make sure you get a flat one that doesn't have defects. I smoothed it with 180 grit sandpaper. Probably should have flattened it too.
 
Where can I find a pre-made balsa strop under $30? I have some pain stirring sticks but they're quite thin and not completely flat.

EDIT:

Nevermind. I noticed CKTG has balsa strops and at a very low price too.

Currently my sharpening set up is composed of shapton glass 500, 1k, and a 4k stone. After the 4k stone which is roughly 3 microns can I just do my finishing stropping on the balsa with the 1 micron diapaste? Right now I'm not like my leather strops that much. My black compound strop works great, while the white compound has trouble sticking to the leather without binding, and the green is slightly sticky to use. This is the main reason why I'm looking to diamond pastes and a suitable strop.
 
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I've heard that balsa works extremely well. I've only ever used leather. I'm currently using my 1 micron dia-paste on a cowhide strop from CKTG. The leather is cased well and thin on a magnetic backing which you stick to a flat metal surface. It works well.
 
Bladenoobie1 said:
Can anyone chime in on whether I should finish on balsa or a leather strop?

- BN
Click to expand...

Try both, if you can. Either can work well, depending on the individual knife & steel. Personally, my first choice would be the balsa. If using leather, I'd highly recommend going as firm and/or thin as possible, on a hard backing. If leather is too soft, and also if pressure is too heavy on that soft surface, it'll just 'roll' over the edge of the blade, and contribute to rounding of the apex. Especially with softer and less wear-resistant steels. Diamond on those steels will quickly round it off and/or over-polish on a softer strop.


David
 
I'll probably grab one of those 8x3 balsa's from CKTG and a tube of 1 micron diapaste. On another note, can you recommend a good strop/compound for a carbon steel scandi grind?
 
Bladenoobie1 said:
I'll probably grab one of those 8x3 balsa's from CKTG and a tube of 1 micron diapaste. On another note, can you recommend a good strop/compound for a carbon steel scandi grind?
Click to expand...

For carbon steel, green all the way, so far as I'm concerned. Other compounds can also be effective off the stones, for de-burring and such. Coarser white and black both do well for that. But, I always follow them with green, and then sometimes on bare leather, according to preference; I've found this isn't always necessary, following the green. Sometimes I'll go straight to my jeans after the green compound, mainly just to clean up residual debris left over, before test-cutting with the edge. Green really brings out the best in carbon steel though, for me. A very noticeable up-tick in sharpness, coming off a green strop.

( BTW, as I was reading your latest post, I was stropping one of my Case CV blades on a green balsa strop. So, my positive impression of this combination is very fresh in my mind. :D )


David
 
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I did find some paint sticks that I believe to be balsa wood and which profile, suitable for stropping. I tried some stropman white compound and chromium oxide and I had good results. I have a little confidence in balsa now and I may just grab an 8x3 from CKTG
 
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Try balsa and leather. I prefer leather, but balsa works well.

Keep your paint stir sticks. If you decide to use leather, glue a bit of it to the stir sticks for an excellent small, portable strop.
 
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