Looking for a consensus of opinion on switching compounds

SC_Dave

SC_Dave

Joined
Jul 29, 2010
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188
I currently have 3 strops loaded with black, green and white compound from BRK. I am thinking about switching to the 6, 3 and 1 paste from DMT. Better? Worse? What say you.
David
 
The more I try, the more I think there's a 'right' compound for each steel. At any given time, I see the value of the diamond compounds for some of the 'tougher' steels to sharpen, like S30V or D2, for example. But at other times, I might prefer to use chromium oxide. I'm noticing this lately, as I've been spending a lot of time with carbon steel blades (like 1095 or CV). These ones really seem to respond to green compound on a firm backing like balsa wood. I find myself using aluminum oxide (in the form of Simichrome polish) on steels like 420HC, 440A, VG-10 & ATS-34. These three really take a high polish generally, and they seem to take very well to AlOx on the strop.

So, bottom line, I'd encourage you to try as many as you can. But you don't necessarily need to rule one out completely, in favor of another.
 
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Great question and funny enough, I virtually did the same recently. I was sick of the black compound since I did not seem to be able to apply it right. I like the white compound on the rough side. So I bought the 6 micron diamond paste and applied it to the smooth side to replace the black compound. Applying was easy. Two problems I have noticed though. First, the leather surface is now very slick, seems that the paste is kind of oil based? So careful edge leading to find the angle does not work anymore. Second, I have no clue when to apply more. I can not see changes on the strop for feedback as with the black compound. After all, I don't if it works and how, if that makes sense?!
Also, I wonder how fine the white compound really is? I mean the green compound is approx. .5 micron, I bet the white is finer than .25 micron, which is the finest diamond spray!
A.
 
awestib said:
I mean the green compound is approx. .5 micron, I bet the white is finer than .25 micron, which is the finest diamond spray!
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If you check ChefKnivesToGo.com, they have some much finer sprays than 0.25.... But, I digress...

I've had very good luck with black, green, and white compounds. However, I generally go from black to white to green -- black on the linen side of a straight razor strop to deburr, then white on HA leather, green on HA leather, then sprays on a different strop block. It all just depends how much time you want to put into it. I go all the way to a 0.05u spray for my straight razors; for my knives, I typically stop at the white or green if I'm after a polished edge.
 
This is what BR says their compound color/grit is. Not sure how this compares in microns. Black (3,000 grit), Green (6,000 grit) and white (12,00 grit).
David
 
Pete84 said:
If you check ChefKnivesToGo.com, they have some much finer sprays than 0.25.... But, I digress....
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I can't see smaller than .25 I use HA 2 micron, 1 micron and .5 micron - when I'm not using 6, 3, 1 dia-paste.

David, your post was very interesting, I think you'll strop on almost anything - loaded with almost anything! :D
 
cziv said:
I can't see smaller than .25 I use HA 2 micron, 1 micron and .5 micron - when I'm not using 6, 3, 1 dia-paste.

David, your post was very interesting, I think you'll strop on almost anything - loaded with almost anything! :D
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Cziv, do you like the Dia-paste better than the wax based compounds?
 
cziv said:
David, your post was very interesting, I think you'll strop on almost anything - loaded with almost anything! :D
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You're not kidding. :D

A while back, I would've been inclined to recommend the diamond compounds over most anything else. But the more I play around with these things, the more I'm beginning to notice that certain compounds really 'mesh' well with certain steels, depending on the intended result. And the backing/substrate for the compound makes a whole world of difference too. The more I discover these unique differences, the more I'm willing to 'experiment' with even more possibilities. I'll probably never stop doing that, at this rate. But, that's what makes this so interesting & fun. :)
 
SC_Dave said:
Cziv, do you like the Dia-paste better than the wax based compounds?
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Uhmmm.... i just started a thread last week on how I was sick of diamond products, then I turned out a beautiful batch of edges on a few folders last weekend using dia-paste on balsa. I'm a rube. The biggest thing I'm discovering "for me" with diamonds, I have to really be careful of edge alignment and use very light strokes. I prefer the green stuff Chromium oxide - I think it's called but they all work for me hit & miss.

pwet said:
suppliers/ken's corner.

0,1 mic CBN, 0,1, 0,05, 0,025 monocristaline diamond and the same size polycristaline diamonds.
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Probably staright razor or belt fodder eh? :confused:
 
For me, I've always found 1 micron to be the upper limit of of what a edge can be taken to without needing over specialized cutting technique or being suited for a specific tasks like shaving but....... Who said we couldn't have a little fun :D As been mentioned, just like stones compounds will "mesh" with some blade steels better than others. I've found you can break it down into 3 groups, carbon, stainless, and PM steels. All can be started with the coarser faster cutting diamond compound but what you finish with and with what steel is important. PM steels its diamonds all the way, silicon carbide and other "carbide" compounds still work but diamond has the edge. Carbon steels seem to like "oxide" base compounds or any natural element. Stainless mixes with diamond and carbide base compounds but of all steels can be the most diverse in how it can be finished.
 
I just use the green stuff. At the price of those diamond compounds I'd have to really be convinced and with the edges I've gotten with my green that will be hard to do. I should probably say I like stropping on my belt grinder more than my hand strop witch may or not make a difference in compound choice.
 
Diamond and CBN (cubic boron nitride) compounds may SEEM expensive, but when one considers that a tiny spray bottle, tube or syringe lasts for decades, it really isn't.:p:thumbup:
 
Bark River white compound is 12,000 grit, green 6,000 grit, and black 3,000 grit. There is a type O out there. Virtuovice on youtube has strop many knives and his experience (on video) for best results are Bark River BLACK compound stropped first. Then BR WHITE compound stropped. BR GREEN compound is not needed for scary sharp knives. His standards for sharpness are very high.
 
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