Strop question - "real quick"

[conw]

Hey yawl,

Not that anyone's keeping track of me, but I haven't been on lately because I am out of town doing some odd jobs for some nice people and getting paid. No computer connection though. Here I am in the local library.

I have a quick question and if it gets answered before I leave the library it'll make my day...

What kind of rouge or "jeweller's polishing compound" is best for loading leather and stropping? I have a pretty new CV Case Sb Jr. and I love it...I got a new Arkansas stone and have plenty of belts, and I want to go the extra mile and strop with polishing compound.

http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/CTGY/jeweler-rouge

The "yellow jeweller's rouge" looks good...should I pull the trigger on it?

Thanks
Conwict

 

[conw]

Bumping this in hopes of a reply before I leave.

I should also add that I don't plan on sharpening the Case until it needs it...sharpest knife I've gotten right out of any factory.

 

[Jason_G]

I use Flitz, Semichrome, Mother's, and similar products for my "everyday" knives. You could possibly find something better, but these are widely available and work pretty well. I like Mother's the best. Either the wheel polish or the billet polish.

Jason

 

[Dionysusigma]

Baking soda followed by rinse.

Really.

 

[conw]

Cool! I'm already using baking soda for shampoo, toothpaste, dog shampoo (with Octagon), sink cleaner (with vinegar), and fridge freshener. Can't hurt to add another use.

I'll give it a try. Thanks.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Just be sure to rinse well due to pH. IIRC, leather's naturally alkaline, so it won't hurt it there, but prolonged contact on a blade would cause patina/rust/pitting/sm beating you up. Just oil it with CLP or whatever when you've finished.

 

[conw]

I've already "Patina'd" it as per a recent photo spread...I really like the knife and blade-profile. I think the baking soda worked fairly well, though I have nothing to compare it to having never stropped with anything other than plain leather...

I think someone should talk sm into having a blog, or perhaps someone with his permission could amalgamate his 20k+ posts into a sort of daily blog using existing material. It'd be awesome, seriously.

 

[cheygriz]

Contact DLT Trading Co. and get a package of the Bark River black and green compounds. It's the same stuff that the factory uses for the final stropping and polish on Bark River knives.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've used the same can of "valve lapping compound" for years. salvaged it from granddad's garage in 1981 and it was old then.

 

[conw]

cheygriz, thanks. Will do that when I have some cash.

FYI, baking soda works very nicely as does cigar ash. Now my "total package" for sharpening is to get an edge on my case Arkansas stone (soft), stroke it on ceramic (Coffee cup, thanks sm), a few on the steel/diamond stick, and end with a strop with cigar ashes, baking soda, then just shabby suede.

 

[sm]

*grin*

...strop with cigar ashes, baking soda, then just shabby suede.

Did I ever mention my mentors grinned a lot?

 

[conw]

Hey, what can I say...it works. The cigar ashes seem to really do the business, too. I've kind of got a mental compendium of SM's advice that is working well for me. Will be putting Pardner advice to use when I get one...soooon.