Strops and compounds

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JJ_Colt45

JJ_Colt45

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I have updated all of my sharpening stones ... added diamond plates recently also ...

Now I am looking at adding diamond pastes or sprays for strops but wanted some feedback from people who actually have used both and have some thoughts as to what works best for them and why ...

I have used CBN compound but I want to add diamond compounds or sprays ... I also would like to know where I can buy a basswood strop to try with the diamond paste or spray ... so if anyone knows where I can buy a basswood strop I would love to know ...

I am leaning towards DMT paste but I am very open to suggestions from more knowledgable users ... if spray is their preference or if there is a brand other than DMT that you prefer ...

I have read several threads about this but seems to have greatly mixed opinions ... and I'm sure there will be here also but I have come to trust in some members thoughts that have worked for me in upgrading so I would like to hear any thoughts from those that use diamond pastes , sprays, and any that may use basswood as a strop ... and reasons for your preferences.

I appreciate any feedback ... Thank - JJ
 
@DeadboxHero has some good advice on this topic from what I've seen on his channel and listened to on the dbk podcast when he was a guest.
 
I tried posting this in tinkering and embelishments but got very little feedback ... so I'm posting here hoping maybe I will get some more thpughts and recommendations ...

I have updated all of my sharpening stones ... added diamond plates recently also ...

Now I am looking at adding diamond pastes or sprays for strops but wanted some feedback from people who actually have used both and have some thoughts as to what works best for them and why ...

I have used CBN compound but I want to add diamond compounds or sprays ... I also would like to know where I can buy a basswood strop to try with the diamond paste or spray ... so if anyone knows where I can buy a basswood strop I would love to know ...

I am leaning towards DMT paste but I am very open to suggestions from more knowledgable users ... if spray is their preference or if there is a brand other than DMT that you prefer ...

I have read several threads about this but seems to have greatly mixed opinions ... and I'm sure there will be here also but I have come to trust in some members thoughts that have worked for me in upgrading so I would like to hear any thoughts from those that use diamond pastes , sprays, and any that may use basswood as a strop or other woods or types of strops you might prefer for use with diamond pastes or sprays ... and reasons for your preferences.

I appreciate any feedback ... Thank - JJ
 
I use green ZAM brand compound on a leather strap. I only paid around 12 dollars for a large container with a push-up bottom.
 
Thank you for that ... I will have to look at Zam brand it's one I am not familiar with.
 
I'm not very familiar with compounds ( sorry ), but I will relay a mistake I made. Avoid cheap paste, it will ruin your strop. :oops: I doubt you would have anyway, but just in case; bargains (supposed) can be tempting. :(
 
well that may keep many from trying cheaper or lesser compounds and having problems so it's good to let us know if you have found out through experience what doesn't work also.

I have some thoughts and ideas of what I'm leaning towards ... but it always seems there are some really good products or hints that I can learn from those that have used diamond pastes or sprays ... and different stropping setups.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
well that may keep many from trying cheaper or lesser compounds and having problems so it's good to let us know if you have found out through experience what doesn't work also.

I have some thoughts and ideas of what I'm leaning towards ... but it always seems there are some really good products or hints that I can learn from those that have used diamond pastes or sprays ... and different stropping setups.
Click to expand...

Good advice from katanas, cheaper isn’t a bargain if the product doesn’t work as intended. I wouldn’t recommend something if it didn’t work for me. The ZAM I mentioned gets good ratings, and it was recommended by a professional knife sharpener as well.
I was in your shoes about a year ago myself, and this is what was recommended to me.
 
Check out bastard beads and strops. He has a website and Instagram.
His compounds are formulated in the USA. and his diamond and CBN emulsions are insane. High concentrations.

I first tried his strop compounds and was blow away. Then about a year later I got his diamond emulsion on 1, 0.5, and 0.2 micron. The edges I can get are downright scary.
 
I will look at his stuff ... I have seen it mentioned in one other thread but they didn't elaborate much ... good information to give me an option to consider ... thanks.
 
I use both leather strops from Brommeland and balsa wood strops from HandAmerica. I've loaded them with CBN spray, Diamond spray, and DMT paste in the past. Right now I'm using CBN from HandAmerica. I also have a diamond paste from Wicked Edge, but I like the DMT paste better if I want a paste.

I like the CBN spray that I'm currently using. I can load my leather or balsa strops with it and it seems to work well. I like wood strops (or the hard leather Brommeland) for final finishing and polishing. Many of the leather strops are too soft for my taste.
 
Get a piece of basswood and make your own. People don't make them generally.

Buy some paste or spray and apply it. Dmt is fine. You will want diamond or cbn for high Vanadium steel, not compound. If it's not high Vanadium compound works well.
 
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I use the bar comounds for HC steels and have used CBN emulsion on some harder steels but thought I'd try diamond paste or spray and see which I prefered or got better results with ...

looking at buying basswood for another option ... I so far find kangaroo leather strops are what I prefer ... have used balsa but wanted a firmer wood to try ...

DMT is what I was leaning towards but see others mentioned in searching past threads and a few here to look at closer ...

thanks for everyones replies - JJ
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
I use the bar comounds for HC steels and have used CBN emulsion on some harder steels but thought I'd try diamond paste or spray and see which I prefered or got better results with ...

looking at buying basswood for another option ... I so far find kangaroo leather strops are what I prefer ... have used balsa but wanted a firmer wood to try ...

DMT is what I was leaning towards but see others mentioned in searching past threads and a few here to look at closer ...

thanks for everyones replies - JJ
Click to expand...
Kangaroo is good because it's thin and doesn't have give. That's another reason why wood like basswood is good. Balsa is nice but has too much give for some people so it's not idea for everyone.

Ken shwartz diamond and cbn is supposed to be top notch because when the bottle says a micron rating they are the most consistent where as some other brands will vary grit size. But that's why it costs more. That and it has alot of it in there.

I'm not sure how much bastard strops differs but he's also got a nice product as mentioned by many that use his stuff.

Iirc @DeadboxHero also uses a good diamond spray that iirc is a bit more affordable.

Of course there is also jende industries too.
 
Right now I like basswood the best for diamond and CBN compounds.

I’ve been buying 1 1/2” by 3’ lengths and chopping them down to whatever size I need.

As long as I label them with sharpie marker there is no problem using them over and over.
When they get real caked up I use a cabinet scraper to take off the crud.

As for compounds I like Poltiva and Gritomatic and DMT.
The Kent stuff works well but so does the cheap stuff that you can get for 2 dollars per syringe.

I have balsa too and it works well but it fuzz’s up and the feedback isn’t as good as basswood.
At some point I do want to try Ken Schwartz compounds and sprays.
I’ve got a few stones off him in the past and they are top notch.
 
I was looking at Ken's stuff ... I may give it a try ... I picked up some basswood this morning enough to make 4 strops to try some different types of pastes and sprays ... DMT has more the micron size I would probably use ....

I doubt I will ever go down to the .50 or .25 micron stuff ...

I still have a couple others to check out that were recommended ... I may end up finding out the old plain leather kangaroo strop is still enough.
 
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