Stropping

[drddenman]

I was told to get stropping materials by someone, so I went shopping to find some. When I stopped at Home Depot(all I have is Home Depot and Michaels) the lady there showed me some sort of oil that she said I could use for stopping, but I was previously under the influence that I needed a powder to strop. Is this oil(I think it was a mineral oil) decent to use or do I need to find my self something else?
Thank you.

[papasar]

Hi and welcome.
Do a search on this forum for "stropping" or : honing" compound and there is a wealth of suggestions and info. Oil is mostly used on an oil stone fore sharpening, Sharpening and honing are two different things. Everybody has their favorite compound and they all work.
Bill K.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

HD has the round tubes with stick compound, I think they carry grey, brown, white (course - fine), it is in the tool section near the buffing wheels.

Dave

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Just looked at mine, tube is blue, made by Ryobi.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

Dave

[Claude]

If you can wait a week for delivery, here's one place to get some: Search for Woodworking Supplies at Woodcraft.com

I have the green chromium oxide one, and also the flexcut one. Both work fine.

Claude

[Hooked on Carving]

I'm in the same boat you are. I mail order for everything. To strop, you could buy a piece of leather and glue it to a piece of wood or get one already mounted that has a v and u shape on the sides to get inside your gouges. Flexcut has a small one with about 3 inches of leather that will do the job plus various wood shapes to get inside. You also need a compound to take off a fine amount of metal. Places sell Aluminum Oxide powder and sticks in various colors. I use Al Oxide for my knives and the Flexcut Gold with some red rouge for my gouges. Plenty of choices and different types of compounds for different folks. Honing oil is used if you are reshaping or sharpening a knife or tool on a stone. For Ceramic and Diamond Stones oil is not needed, water is the better lubricant. Google and check the carving resources and you'll find what you need! Have fun!

[A_Swope]

I use jewelers rouge but im not sure if you can find that at home depot