I've been using aluminum oxide powder on my strope and think that it does a good job. However, I may be like the pig in a pen, not knowing what it's like to live in a palace. Therefore, I want to get out of my pen and try some of that yellowstone stuff everyone is extolling. is where is a good place to get it and can it be obtained in powder form as well as stick form?

Thanks in advance to everyone who responds.

Nearly every woodcarving supply has it in their inventory.
Just check your catalogs or favorite website.
I have used both Yellowstone and Aluminum Oxide; I prefer Yellowstone; it comes in stick form only.
Aluminum Oxide powder works very well on the right surface.

Little Shavers (206)767-7421 will fix you right up.

[mdallensr]

Let me add a vote for this stopping compound. I just got mine this weekend and loaded up a new strop. It works better than any others I've tried. I really like to find things that work; add this one to the list.

[woodenleg]

I've tried the aluminum oxide and use it all the time with good results -- though I am not sure it is the best. The various sticks I have used (incluing the yellowstone) have been so hard that it takes forever to get them applied to my strop. Am I doing something wrong? Why is that stuff so hard? The powder seems much better and makes more sense to me????

I scrape it off with an old pocket knife I keep laying around for things your not supposed to use a knife for. If it's not handy, I'll use the back of my carving knife.

Woodenleg -
I heard an idea that I think works great for Yellowstone. Â*Put a cheese grader(sp?) over a piece of paper and sand some Yellowstone off. Â*You then pour the powder into a 35mm film case so you always have some ready when you need it.

I think I read that idea here but I can't remember who to give credit to. Â*:-[

I've been using a bastard file for that.( Use an ols one ) Just file over a piece of paper till your file fills up. Hit it on the work bench and the stuff falls out of the file. Store it in a 35mm fim cannister and it's ready to use any time.