DMT Diapaste Vs Compound

N

neeman

Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
6,249
Hi,

Could you guys give information about the difference between using DMT diapaste and compound

I have mainly D2 and 1095 and final hone them on either a 4k King stone or a EF DMT
I use white compound for the finish and for touching up knives in use'
I find it works very well indeed

Thanks
 
I love green chromium oxide compound for 1095.

I've used white compound, but never had it do much to steel until I started power stropping on a belt grinder. On a high speed belt, the white seems to polish anything I throw at it really well, that includes d2.

I haven't had a chance to try dia-paste.
 
What I've grown to like for the steels mentioned:

1095: Green compound, all the way. Either on balsa (mixed with mineral oil), or it also works great on the sueded side of my leather belt.

D2: Lately, I've been finding great results using 600-grit SiC, followed by green compound. D2 is pretty flexible, it seems to me, in how it responds to different compounds. Finding the right stropping substrate on which to use a compound makes a huge difference. Diamond can work well (used to rely on 1µ Dia-Paste for D2), but it's easier to over-polish an edge with diamond. This is why I've settled into the SiC, because I can still strop fairly aggressively with it on D2, without degrading the edge.

In both cases above, I'm really liking using the compounds on balsa. Both the SiC and green are powder, which I've mixed with mineral oil.


David
 
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With 1095, I would go directly to CrOx.

With D-2, I use 1 micron dia-paste, (or CBN) then.5 micron CrOx.
 
I have a two sides wood bat from Bark river

Okay so I understand why
What does the green do and the white does not
Also what is CBD ?
And .5 micron CrOx?

Thanks
 
neeman said:
I have a two sides wood bat from Bark river

Okay so I understand why
What does the green do and the white does not
Also what is CBD ?
And .5 micron CrOx?

Thanks
Click to expand...

'CBN' = Cubic Boron Nitride; very hard, second only to diamond, essentially.
'.5 micron CrOx' = green compound (chromium oxide), in other words. Most decent green compounds are 0.5 micron in 'average particle size'.

'White' compounds are highly variable. Can consist of a number of different abrasives, at a wide range of particle sizes. Many will be aluminum oxide, but may also be other less effective abrasives, like tin oxide (too soft for steel). Therefore it's difficult to directly compare performance, unless a specific brand and particle size/type is specified.

Green compound (chromium oxide) is fairly hard, though not as hard as aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, CBN or diamond. The fine particle size of most green compounds is what makes it very popular as a finishing step for simpler steels and even some fairly hard/wear-resistant steels like D2.


David
 
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David pretty much covered it. Chromium Oxide "particles" are essentially round, rather than irregular chrystalline structures which causes it to give a somewhat smoother edge. Very popular with straight razor users.
 
The white compound (approximately 12,000 grit) is from Bark River
does that mean any quality control or material?
 
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Downhill Trucker said:
Generally 1095, but I have an assortment of blades in different materials. The 1095 blades are the ones I like to get silly sharp.
Click to expand...

My favorite compound, for 'silly sharp' 1095, is green (chromium oxide). I've been singing it's praises quite a lot here lately, with regard to it's effectiveness on that steel. :)

Other more aggressive compounds can work also, but it's easier to overdo it with some of them (diamond, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide). Knowing where to 'stop' is more important when using those. Green is a little less damaging (by overpolishing), if stropping goes on a bit longer. 1095 has almost no wear-resistance, which makes it very easy to sharpen and refine, but also makes it more vulnerable to abrasives or compounds that are too aggressive.


David
 
neeman said:
The white compound (approximately 12,000 grit) is from Bark River
does that mean any quality control or material?
Click to expand...

I haven't used theirs, but I also haven't heard many (if any) complaints either, from others who have. The Bark River compounds seem to have at least a decent reputation. Still, I've no way of knowing exactly what their white compound consists of, in terms of abrasive type.


David
 
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