[stickman]

great more hot sticks it is then ,I'll try to get them in the mail sometime this week.

[stickman]

Parker, there in the mail. hope you like them, I find some cheese and crackers with a mug of beer really hits the spot.

[cats pa]

A mug of beer - isn't that where this whole thing started out?

Thanks. I'll let you know when they get here.

Parker

[cats pa]

Hey, Mike.

I got your pep sticks and they're better than the ones I got out of my last deer. Man were they good. I made the mistake of opening them up at lunchtime, and my partner and the two electricians snarfed down about half a dozen before I could drive them back with a sawzall. Lucky for me, though - I could have lost them all, plus my fingers.

Got another shape of MDF wheel on the ol' drawing board, but I've been working dark to dark. Next week, maybe. Anyhow, I'll send you a prototype when I get time.

Parker

[stickman]

Parker, I'm glad you liked the hot sticks.everyone that tries them seems to like them.every year I get about 15lbs made out of one of the deer I harvest to share with friends

I'm still learning how to use them(mdf wheels )but its getting easier and they really work well(as long as I have a steady hand)and I really haven't had a problem with to much heat.

Glad you like the sticks!

[James_Dukeshire]

Hi there,

I'm in the process of making my own power strop. I do carvings of specific people and am needing razor sharp tools most of the time for the work.

I have the motor and pully set up, its an 1800 motor with the shaft spinning at about 900 because of the two pullys that I'm using.

One of my questions is regarding what kinds of honing compounds you guys would recommend.

I have the wheels and the leather and am in the process of attaching the leather to the wheels.

I have 4 different wheels available that I can put honing compound on. I was thinking of using some very course black honing compound on one wheel, green (lee valley) honing compound on another and perhaps using the gold honing compound for very fine sharpening on the other. I am also going to buy a white buffing wheel (The hard felt variety) for even finer honing.

1) What do you think of my idea for using different honing compounds?

2) Would a combination of using the smooth and non smooth side of the leather on different wheels be beneficial?

3) I want to make my own rotating curved leather profiled power strop to hone the back of my gouges. Basically I'm trying to make something similar to the curved tormex leather power strop that their selling. My idea is to lathe a disk of wood to have a curved shape and then attach leather around the outside for the back of my gouges. Do you guys have any better ideas?

Thanks so much, I'm a young fellow about 25 who's been carving for the last 10 years on my own. Would be interested in getting any help I can get from some of you more experienced people.

[stickman]

I think your ideas are pretty good. maybe a little caution about the course honing compound as it will heat your tools up (although 900rpm is not that fast).Keep some water near by to cool off your tool if nessary.

[James_Dukeshire]

Thanks for your advice on the honing compound.

What about using the smooth, skin side of the leather or the other side or a combination of both?

[stickman]

I not sure how the smooth side would work but my guess is it would work somewhat.I think the reason you use the rough side is because it holds the buffing compound better.I know that stropping on the smooth side is better than not stropping at all.Hope that helps.