Using car polish as a honing compound?

[Ezzylearner]

Hi, I am from Malaysia, a wood carving beginner (my new hobby) with just 2.5 months carving experience (whittling mainly). Among my limited carving tools I have an X-Acto #11 knife and a pocket knife (wood carving knives are not available in the market in my country). I have made two strops (got the idea from the internet) but honing compound not available here. So I am using car polish as a honing compound for those two knives which seems to work satisfactorily. Would like to know anybody else also uses car polish as a honing compound and whether it works for you?

There are very limited tools available in the market here in Malaysia, also no wood carving clubs or classes, I learn from the internet and Youtube. My main tools are utility knives - the ones with the snap-off blades. Looking forward to learning from you guys - so many master carvers on this forum.

Beat wishes to all.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I never have but I heard of people that do. Is ordering on the internet an option?

Dave

[Dicky]

I imagine automotive paint buffing compound would work but might take a little longer.

[AlArchie]

Yes car polish will work. You may also try valve lapping compound if you have an auto supply store or machine shop nearby. Also check hardware stores for polishing compound in the section with wire wheels and buffing wheels. It may be called jewelers rouge or tripoli or carborundum....comes in wax sticks about 4 to 5 inches long and an inch in diameter.

Al

[Kate]

Hi Ezzy!
I have never used it either but do have some experience with auto detailing and the associated products.
If you have it available you might try some aluminum wheel polish. It generally has a good grit to it and might just do the trick for you.

Another thing you might be able to find would be jewelery polishing compounds.
What they call "White Diamond" is a coarser compound and "Rouge" would make a nice finishing lap. Both come in a hard stick that you can rub onto your strop.

I'm going to try that mag aluminum polish and see how well it works. That has me thinking.

[Ezzylearner]

Thanks, guys for the tips, suggestions, advice. Options are there for me now. I have the option of ordering online but the Far East is half-way round the world from the States (I drool when I think of all the tools and stuff available to you guys) and the shipping costs is/are almost twice that of the items that I would like to purchase, include insurance and that will be to costly for me (even if I order from Australia). Also, from time to time stuff goes missing in the mail over here just like the 2 Stubai carving knives from Australia - never got them. Sweet carvings to you all.

[chipmunk]

auto rubbing compound has a little courser grit then polish but if u have to order then use what u have i say the alum polish is very fine too i don't know it u can get auto trimit sand paper the [black sandpaper for use on cars put that on a pc. of 2x4 320-400 grit would be good to sharpen then use the leather to fine the edge up if u don't have make do w/ what u do!!!

[Kate]

I just tested my theory on the all metal polish.

It kinda worked, but because it was so soft (a paste) it had a tendancy to push out from under the tool.
I suppose that if you needed something in a pinch it would be OK, but it would only work as a last resort for me.

I'd stick with something like the jewelery polishing compounds instead.
White Diamond & Rouge

[SeaLeveler]

Is Flitz available there.It is a metal polish like has been mentioned above.
Tony

[Ezzylearner]

Hi, Kate, I also noticed that happens when the car polish is wet on the strop. I allow the polish to almost dry and then do the honing, just tried it on my utility knife blade and it feels a bit sharper than before.

Hi, SeaLeveler, metal polisher by the name "Brasso" used to be available here but nowadays don't see them on the shelves, will pop into Ace Hardware and see whether they carry other metal polishers, have not come across Flitz over here, will keep a look out. I'll try buffer car polisher in the near future.

Happy carving to all.