[Dennis Taylor]

Is there a better type of strop & compound to use?...I think I would like something wider than my knife blade, and have good things about the zam...another follow up question is this: Can you mix compounds on the strop, or should you use one type of compound on one strop and another on a different, or doesn't it matter?....tks....Dennis

[Thomp]

Dennis,
strop compounds come in different abrasive grits as dose sandpaper,
I dont remember the color to grit chart but you can search tool thread for slip grit color chart... or somebody can provide it if needed..

just as you would never finish a project with poured on sand or 10 grit sandpaper that you was going to show off with a coating of blo or poly, the finish would have a washboard effect to the surface,,, you go through the grits and remove previous striations of the previous grit.. until you achieve a finished sanding you approve of

the same when honing a cutting surface, from the heavy cutting stone to the Arkansas to the strop...
the finer the better, i have my favorite edges good enough to where i only use flex cut gold on them it preforms for me but i have used green black red white and Tripoli in the past,,

the multi sized abrasives of all the mixtures would still get a blade semi sharp, but would never achieve the polish and sharpness of a fine abrasive, to mirror shine, that takes time to go though the steps, fine abrasive and work to get it right..

Anybody else wanna step in here before i teach something wrong do so....

[papasar]

IMHO
only have to use one compound on my strop to polish and keep the edge sharp on my knives. I use "Yellow compound". Don't ask me why its color is pink. Its like hard chalk and I make powder by using a riffler file. Using a wheel could be a whole new story.
Bill K.

[Tom H]

What I can add involves the actual strop[. If you go for a leather strop go for a thinner thickness leather that has a harder surface. Stay away from the soft spongy thick cow hide. The softer strop tends to increase the likihood of rounding the knife edge.....Tom H

[Kenny_S]

Dennis, there are some carvers who DO use different compounds on the same strop or use a combination of compounds. I don't do that but use the Flexcut gold on one learther strop, Jeweler's rouge on another and white on another. I use white on a power leather strop. They all work for me. Right or wrong, use what works for you.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

They recommend pigskin, but I can't get one of those little critters to donate!

[MDWine]

I have the Flexcut strop and compound.
I have had a horrible time getting the tip of the knife to cut properly.

We saw Everett Ellenwood at the Block Party, and I enjoyed his sharpening discussion so much that I bought his strop and compound. I don't remember the name of the compound (it is a white stick)... but it is the best I have ever used!!!

My Flexcut knife is sharp as can be from 'stem to stern'. I think the compound made the difference, definitely worth the price. 10 passes on each side did a great job, and 10 more on each made the edge incredibly sharp... I'm sold!

(Thanks Ev!!)

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Like with most things carving, I have a number of each. I have a flexcut strop, but seldom use it as it's too short for my liking. Perefer on at least 8" long (Rick stocks a couple). As to compound, I like Yellowstone (the pink stuff) on my strop and buffing compoun d on my wheels.

I have also used diamond paste on a couple of strops and it works fine, but can't get past the paste thing. Worried about a mess in my box. Has never happened, but I'm paranoid.