Recommendation? Green or White Compund

[jonnieb27]

red is coarse, white is medium and green is fine.

This would be the opposite for for the green, white and red compounds I have. Green is the coarsest, works well on stainless steel. White provides more of a mirror polish, but still has some cutting action, and red, or jewellers rouge, is primarily for polishing, hardly cuts at all.

Green will provide a polished edge on, for instance, a wood chisel in high carbon steel, but not so much on hard stainless. I need the white for that.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Wondering if the mentioned 'coarse' red compound is actually pinkish? A picture would make that clearer. Also wondering if it's labelled as to what materials it's meant for polishing? A pinkish-colored (or maroon/purple) compound might be something other than iron (ferric) oxide, like aluminum oxide. That would be more easily found in a variety of grits, including coarser grades.

Otherwise, I've never heard of the typical 'red' rouge compounds being rated anything but 'fine' or finer. That's due more to the fact it's not very hard and won't cut very aggressively, even on the softer metals (gold, silver, etc.) for which it's intended. It tends to polish, much more than cut.

 

[knifelover 578]

nope

Wondering if the mentioned 'coarse' red compound is actually pinkish? A picture would make that clearer. Also wondering if it's labelled as to what materials it's meant for polishing? A pinkish-colored (or maroon/purple) compound might be something other than iron (ferric) oxide, like aluminum oxide. That would be more easily found in a variety of grits, including coarser grades.

Otherwise, I've never heard of the typical 'red' rouge compounds being rated anything but 'fine' or finer. That's due more to the fact it's not very hard and won't cut very aggressively, even on the softer metals (gold, silver, etc.) for which it's intended. It tends to polish, much more than cut.

its a dark crimson red. must just be where i bought it from. i got mine from a tandy leathers. not sure if its the best choice of compounds, but its what i use and i get shaving edges on all the knives i strop.