How to apply stropping compound?

L

Luckylefty01

Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Messages
278
Okay, I've got the bar of stopping compound (from lee valley, I think they call it honing compound or something), the piece of leather belt glued to the board, now what's the recommended way to put the two together?:P The box for the honing compound says to use tallow or some hard fat when applying, is there some common household item that would work? and how would I go about applying it to the leather with the compound.
 
At work we just pour a little 600 grit silica-carbide on the leather/board and spread it around with the thing to be stropped.

I'm not sure how a bar of the stuff works... didn't know it came in bar-form. Just lay some on the leather and begin...
 
I use the green stuff that comes in a bar already mixed with wax so you apply it like using a crayon. I would say just rub it on the leather fairly evenly and start stropping. The stropping should distribute the compound. If the leather needs conditioning, just use some leather conditioner.
 
If you have a solid bar do like mycroftt said and rub it on the entire piece of leather. I use a belt clamped to a bench, rub the compound on and strop like a barber.
Scott
 
I use "Mother's Chrome Polish" found at auto parts stores as my stropping compound.Works great.
 
I found it pretty difficult to get the leevalley stuff to stick. But if you use a little bit of Mineral oil on the stropping compound it sticks a lot better.
 
Hi,

I have 2 pieces of leather. One I used olive oil (warm) and the other I use neatsfoot oil.
 
Yes, you can use it with or without oil.

Over time, you'll build up a layer of it and won't have to apply it as often.

Don't worry about gooping up your blade.....washes off with mineral spirits or acetone.

It does take some time to get it to "break in" though....just be advised.

You'll get good results in the meantime.
 
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