Stropping compound for Lansky hone

[rider9195]

Hey everyone. I am looking to get the Lansky clamping system, 5 piece set if I can remember correctly. I was going to order a stropping hone with it as well and was wondering what kind of compound or paste I should get to accompany the hone.

Thanks!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

What steels will you be sharpening with your Lansky? And how high a finish are you looking to attain (coarse, mirror, or somewhere in between)? Depending on which steel types and desired finish, some compounds may be more preferable than others.

Welcome to forum, BTW.


David

 

[rider9195]

Thanks David!

I have a Spyderco Manix2 on the way, BD1 steel. I have a Gerber Mini Paraframe and some very old pocket knives, not sure what steel these use. A nice mirror finish that is razor sharp is my goal, I do know it won't come with the first attempt though.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Thanks David!

I have a Spyderco Manix2 on the way, BD1 steel. I have a Gerber Mini Paraframe and some very old pocket knives, not sure what steel these use. A nice mirror finish that is razor sharp is my goal, I do know it won't come with the first attempt though.

BD1 seems to be fairly similar to 440C in composition (0.90% carbon, 15.75% chromium, tiny bits of molybdenum, vanadium). The Gerber and the older pocketknives are likely simpler stainless steels and carbon (non-stainless) blades. I'd think most common black, white or green compounds should do well on all of them. The BD1 blade, if it sharpens up much like 440C, should respond very well to silicon carbide (often found in the 'black') and/or aluminum oxide (usually white; may also be grey, brown, blue, pink). Diamond compound/paste may do fairly well with the BD1, though it likely would be overkill on the others you mention.

For non-stainless blades like 1095 and Case's CV, green compound (chromium oxide) is my favorite. Should also work very well with the simpler stainless steels (420HC/440A/etc.).

For mirror finishes, most of the 'real work' needs to be done with the hones (full and tight grit progression), prior to stropping. This is generally true with any sharpening, but more so when mirrored finishes are the goal. Stropping generally won't do that alone.

It may be worth experimenting on other pieces of leather with various compounds, before settling on and committing to choosing one for your Lansky strop. It's sort of a pain in the you-know-what to put compound on a new dedicated strop, only to find out later that something else might've worked better for you.


David

 

[rider9195]

BD1 seems to be fairly similar to 440C in composition (0.90% carbon, 15.75% chromium, tiny bits of molybdenum, vanadium). The Gerber and the older pocketknives are likely simpler stainless steels and carbon (non-stainless) blades. I'd think most common black, white or green compounds should do well on all of them. The BD1 blade, if it sharpens up much like 440C, should respond very well to silicon carbide (often found in the 'black') and/or aluminum oxide (usually white; may also be grey, brown, blue, pink). Diamond compound/paste may do fairly well with the BD1, though it likely would be overkill on the others you mention.

For non-stainless blades like 1095 and Case's CV, green compound (chromium oxide) is my favorite. Should also work very well with the simpler stainless steels (420HC/440A/etc.).

For mirror finishes, most of the 'real work' needs to be done with the hones (full and tight grit progression), prior to stropping. This is generally true with any sharpening, but more so when mirrored finishes are the goal. Stropping generally won't do that alone.

It may be worth experimenting on other pieces of leather with various compounds, before settling on and committing to choosing one for your Lansky strop. It's sort of a pain in the you-know-what to put compound on a new dedicated strop, only to find out later that something else might've worked better for you.


David

Thanks for all that information! I will have to find some small samples of different kinds and give them all a shot.

 

[Ben Dover]

I've had my best results by far with compounds of CBN (cubic boron nitride) and poly-chrystalline diamond.

These are available from 80 micron down to .01 micron. My stropping progression is normally, 1 micron, .5 and .25. On some knives, I will go down to .125 and .1.

gooogle for

Jende Industries

Chef knives to go.

U.S. products company

Graves lapidary supply.

I'm sure there are more, but these are people that I have had satisfactory business dealings with, and that I now trust.

DMT Dia-Paste is also very good. It only comes in 6,3 and 1 micron grit sizes but it's economical, and works well.