- Joined
- Jun 25, 2012
- Messages
- 42
Ok, so I've decided to retire my 17 year old Lansky sharpener, which has been modified over the years, and currently contains a fine serrated hone, medium and fine diamond hones, a fine non-diamond hone, and an ultra fine (ceramic?) hone. However, I came to the realization that I just plain want something new, but within a budget, and I also want to take my edges to a new level by throwing a strop in the mix.
I ordered myself a brand new DMT Diafold Magna-Guide Quad Kit (includes C,F,EF,EEF hones), a separate EC Diafold hone, 1, 3 & 6 micron Diapaste, and a brand new Gatco knife clamp - all for around $130 shipped. As I was saying, the obvious reason for the Diapaste is that I am planning on bringing a strop into the regimen. Someone mentioned that MDF is a desireable surface medium for stropping with pastes, so I ran out to Home Depot today and picked up a 3/4" x 2' x 4' piece for about $12. It is very smooth on both sides and is dead flat. I will be cutting several smaller (3" x 11") pieces to use as strops. I have a large slab of granite countertop, left over from an installation, which will be the work surface for the strops. This will be my first ever experience with stropping, so before I go ahead with this, I have some questions:
1. Is there any prep work involved with MDF? I am assuming that I can just apply the paste directly to the surface and go to work?
2. Should I buy some leather to glue down to the surface of one of the strops, or perhaps some balsa? Seems impossible to find balsa around here.
Any recommendations would be appreciated, as I am planning to give the new setup a try tomorrow evening.
I ordered myself a brand new DMT Diafold Magna-Guide Quad Kit (includes C,F,EF,EEF hones), a separate EC Diafold hone, 1, 3 & 6 micron Diapaste, and a brand new Gatco knife clamp - all for around $130 shipped. As I was saying, the obvious reason for the Diapaste is that I am planning on bringing a strop into the regimen. Someone mentioned that MDF is a desireable surface medium for stropping with pastes, so I ran out to Home Depot today and picked up a 3/4" x 2' x 4' piece for about $12. It is very smooth on both sides and is dead flat. I will be cutting several smaller (3" x 11") pieces to use as strops. I have a large slab of granite countertop, left over from an installation, which will be the work surface for the strops. This will be my first ever experience with stropping, so before I go ahead with this, I have some questions:
1. Is there any prep work involved with MDF? I am assuming that I can just apply the paste directly to the surface and go to work?
2. Should I buy some leather to glue down to the surface of one of the strops, or perhaps some balsa? Seems impossible to find balsa around here.
Any recommendations would be appreciated, as I am planning to give the new setup a try tomorrow evening.