Question about stropping compounds

J

J-RAY1989

Joined
Jun 14, 2019
Messages
351
Hello All.

So my question is: do I just have crappy green compound, or is this normal?

I strop with a knives plus strop. As I've worn down the compound, I've added more that I bought off eBay.

With this new compound, it piles up on the edge while stropping.
full


I'm thinking it's just because I got some crappy compound off eBay instead of buying some tried and true stuff from a dealer.

Seems like it's not sticking to the strop much at all, and just ending up on the blade.

Thanks for any info!

Edit: before the new compound, the original compound would end up on the blade just a tad, but not like this. The picture is only after a few passes.
 
I can't talk for other other brands, but the stuff I use is ghetto Harbor Freight compound. It is like a big green Crayon. It does not load up like that, until it is clogged with swarf. Once it turns black and has been used up, it will start sticking to the edge. Then I just give it (the strop) a little rub with a paper towl, and expose more green, fresh layer.


Maybe try putting less on the strop? That seems like softer compound.

Also, have you cleaned the strop of the old compound before trying the new? Rubbed it down with a clean paper towel until you get to clean, fresh leather?
 
Bigfattyt said:
I can't talk for other other brands, but the stuff I use is ghetto Harbor Freight compound. It is like a big green Crayon. It does not load up like that, until it is clogged with swarf. Once it turns black and has been used up, it will start sticking to the edge. Then I just give it a little rub with a paper towl, and expose more green, fresh layer.


Maybe try putting less on the strop? That seems like softer compound.
Click to expand...
That could be it too. It does seem pretty soft. Same deal for me though, it's like a huge crayon. Maybe I'll wipe off all the compound including the leftovers from the factory, and put a fresh light layer on.

Almost like a paste when I wipe it off the blade with paper towel.
 
J-RAY1989 said:
That could be it too. It does seem pretty soft. Same deal for me though, it's like a huge crayon. Maybe I'll wipe off all the compound including the leftovers from the factory, and put a fresh light layer on.

Almost like a paste when I wipe it off the blade with paper towel.
Click to expand...
Mine acts like that if I add a bit of oil to it.
 
Bigfattyt said:
Mine acts like that if I add a bit of oil to it.
Click to expand...
I added olive oil to the old compound like the directions said that came with it. This new compound I haven't done that at all. Maybe enough soaked in to the leather.

Going to strip the leather bare and start over. I've only been stropping for a few months, so I'm still learning the tricks.
 
The green compound I have is dry as an old fart and I have to press hard to get it to go into the leather. Yours may have alot of mineral oil in it.
I generally try to rub it INTO the leather and let it sit before using it. Kind of like the paste compounds .Mine will still come of noticeably if I have the wrong angle when stropping. Make sure of the angle and let it sit overnight if possible b4 using it.
 
sickpuppy1 said:
The green compound I have is dry as an old fart and I have to press hard to get it to go into the leather. Yours may have alot of mineral oil in it.
I generally try to rub it INTO the leather and let it sit before using it. Kind of like the paste compounds .Mine will still come of noticeably if I have the wrong angle when stropping. Make sure of the angle and let it sit overnight if possible b4 using it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice I'll try that out. I guess it's going to be another one of those things where you just experiment, until you find what works best for you.
 
Well, besides the for lack of a better term “ creamy” look of it, I noticed , after blowing it up the paste is built up from the very edge of the blade. When mine does this, it means (assuming free hand strop) that I’m holding the knife slightly up too much and that means the apex of the blade it hitting first. So I then try to lower the angle just a touch.
You can actually feel when it’s “on the flat” by how smooth the knife moves. Think about it. If the tip of the apex or the back of it are hitting first, it’s a pronounced edge, so it feels rougher. But when you have that knife held just right, or what I call on the flat, it moves smoother, no edge is hitting, just the flat part of the apex.
As a result too it doesn’t scrape off your compound near as much. It’s all by feel and that means practicing,,,,a lot.....
 
sickpuppy1 said:
Well, besides the for lack of a better term “ creamy” look of it, I noticed , after blowing it up the paste is built up from the very edge of the blade. When mine does this, it means (assuming free hand strop) that I’m holding the knife slightly up too much and that means the apex of the blade it hitting first. So I then try to lower the angle just a touch.
You can actually feel when it’s “on the flat” by how smooth the knife moves. Think about it. If the tip of the apex or the back of it are hitting first, it’s a pronounced edge, so it feels rougher. But when you have that knife held just right, or what I call on the flat, it moves smoother, no edge is hitting, just the flat part of the apex.
As a result too it doesn’t scrape off your compound near as much. It’s all by feel and that means practicing,,,,a lot.....
Click to expand...
Entirely plausible. I'm free handing and still learning. I probably do strop at too high an angle. That's from the subconscious fear of rounding the bevel. I'm going to lower my angle just a bit next time.
 
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