Stropping compounds

BenLong1018

BenLong1018

Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
1,668
Am I the only one that doesn't really care about them? I think just using my leather strop with nothing on it at all is just fine for a finishing touch. Opinions?
 
I use compounds on a Balsa strop when I am just touching up an edge. Bare balsa or leather takes a while to strop M390 or similar back to a hair whittling edge it seems. When I sharpen, I end with bare balsa sometimes.
 
it depends on what kind of edge you want to end with, if you're satisfied with the results you get then yeah, no need to bother, but for those who sharpen and strop straight razors they become a must, that or Micron sheets which are rather expensive.
 
As a last step, plain leather works for me. I use black emery, then chrome oxide loaded strops first. Sometimes metal polish loaded, too. Sometimes I go with stuff after the plain leather too. Newsprint, palm of my hand, etc. Fun to experiment.
 
marcinek said:
As a last step, plain leather works for me. I use black emery, then chrome oxide loaded strops first. Sometimes metal polish loaded, too. Sometimes I go with stuff after the plain leather too. Newsprint, palm of my hand, etc. Fun to experiment.
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Agreed.

I go with a black compound loaded strop, then a green compound loaded strop, then I finish with a .3 micron diamond paste loaded strop. I used to use a bare leather strop, but it would take forever to get any kind of results. Compounds are where it's at! At work I keep a small double sided hone that is loaded with black on one side and green on the other. I used to just use a piece of cardboard loaded with compound, but strops work so much better.
 
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I have a 4 sides Stropman that I use Black then white and green on and on the forth I use a .5 micron diamond spray. The Diamond sprays also work very well on balsa. the best budget compound is MASS or Flitz compounds.
 
Interesting guys. I honestly don't really use a lot of harder steels so compounds aren't entirely necessary for me. The hardest steels I own are 154cm and vg10. I just bought some ultra fine stones for the sharpmaker and those should definitely give me a more refined edge along with a stropping right after.
 
I use an old ceramic strop that looks like a spark plug (yeah..)
I don't put anything on it. I don't use alot of pressure at all and it still works very fast.
I also don't mind scratching up my bevel a bit. Gives it character. :D
 
bladeboss said:
I use an old ceramic strop that looks like a spark plug (yeah..)
I don't put anything on it. I don't use alot of pressure at all and it still works very fast.
I also don't mind scratching up my bevel a bit. Gives it character. :D
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Heh? Whats a ceramic strop? Are you talking about a ceramic hone??? Like a crock stick or the fine rods on a Sharpmaker?
 
bladeboss said:
I use an old ceramic strop that looks like a spark plug (yeah..)
I don't put anything on it. I don't use alot of pressure at all and it still works very fast.
I also don't mind scratching up my bevel a bit. Gives it character. :D
Click to expand...

If your bevels are not polished, how are they scratched up by a ceramic hone?
 
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