You should do a review of all the stropping compounds you use and what the use case is for them. And as always great video man. You are incredibly knowledgeable on knives and have already helped my sharpening skills immensely.
I finally got some balsa and basswood from a couple of towns over from me at the hobby store. I'm glad I seen you using it. As far as the rougher compounds I like the results so much better than leather for taking off burrs. I guess the harder substrate gives the compounds a little more aggressive cutting power.
currently I'm using a piece of cardboard backing from a notepad amd rubbed it on some dry slurry from an 8k water stone. seems to work pretty well. I ran out of diamond paste so just making due with what I have.
Yes but don't know which ones to get. I had a .5 DMT paste. Which ones are the ones you use. I noticed you had some different colored ones. Seen some on Amazon but didn't know if they were good or not. I didn't want to purchase any only to find they had a very small concentrate.
MK116Alex the best I've used are from Wicked Edge, but they're expensive. There's also compounds from Temo. Temo is less expensive and you'll get more compound, and it's a decent compound. I've been using Temo recently quite a bit for strops above 1 micron. Below 1 micron, I've been using diamond emulsion sprays from Ken Schwartz.
I prefer basswood over everything so far. With leather, you have to be more careful with your angle and pressure so that you don't round off your apex. With wood, you can absolutely use the same angle as you do in sharpening, regardless of pressure. Wood is also more aggressive and overall yields a less convexed bevel imo. But I still like leather for finishing when I get to 0.25 or 0.1 micron. It would be interesting to see how your thoughts on wood stropping have changed over the years. Also, I'll often use dry diamond powder on wood, or use the powder to increase the concentration of a compound or spray. It cuts very fast. I only have DMT stones (XC, C, F, EF) and will often go from the 1200 grit EF to 6 or even 3 micron diamond powder on wood. It is quite a jump but the powder on wood cuts so aggressively you may be surprised at how well it works. I also have 30 micron powder for burr removal on s110v right off the coarse or fine stone. Interesting stuff, I'd like to see experiment with diamond powder.
@@michaelchristy4982 I have loaded a small piece of basswood with Tormek PA-70, just as you have many times in the past, and added 3 micron diamond powder before rubbing it in. I let it dry and when I began stropping, one pass yielded a relatively thick, dark gray streak of steel. It's just something you have to experience. I have to keep stropping brief if I don't want an absolute 3 micron edge, as it will remove the existing 1200 grit scratch pattern very quickly. It'll be so mirrored that it's hard to distinguish from 1 or even 0.5 micron (but Tormek PA-70 is capable of such). Looking forward to your next video.
Since basswood has tighter pores does it seem to hold on to compunds better than balsa? Also curious since there is no give in basswood does that increase it decrease wire edges when stropping?
Michael Shults stropping should remove (or help remove) a wire edge. Both Balsa and Basswood hold compound well, but basswood holds up better from use.
@@michaelchristy4982 Thanks - that's all I needed to know! Order you some pre-cut 3/8" thick acrylic from taps plastics, and use some 3m/77 adhesive to glue it down. I see you prefer smaller stones or strops, so this would give your strop stability and give you finger room. You can get it cut to any dimensions you want, it helps stabilize the balsa or basswood.
Hi Michael. I've found Solvol Autosol to be the best i've used. Much better than the sticks of compound like Flexcut gold! PS. I like to let it dry on the surface before use. The data sheet says its Aluminum Oxide.
This video explains a lot about what I've wanted to know about wooden strops. I have been using a leather strop for the past year, and although I can get a pretty good edge I haven't been impressed at all with the performance, when it gets dirty, you can't clean it easy. Would a thicker piece of basswood be as good as a strop? I'm thinking of taking your idea of disposable wooden strops but I'm more of a clean it up use it again guy. What would you buy to use, if you had to use it everyday? Right now I have basswood on my list regardless just to try out.
I find that once you go above 2.5 micron, or maybe even 1 micron, the strop loads quickly with steel and stops cutting fast. For lower micron strops, (1 and below), I'll use the wooden strops more then once. Anything above that, and the strop loads after a few uses. I buy the basswood in larger pieces and cut out each strop. I replace the larger grit strops each time to get maximum effect for my time. You could probably stretch the use out, but for me, I don't mind. A thicker piece would only cost more, if you look at it the way I look at it. I've also found what seems like a loss of surface stability with wood strops used over and over with diamond sprays. (I think the liquid eventually begins to challenge the integrity of the surface.). I like to have the wood just thick enough to support the activity.
Try a old word search book. The paper is very "woody feeling" and makes a fine hone. I go from that to the whit pages in the phone book. Give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for another good video. I admire your skills
It may be more then what's needed, but it's inexpensive and a tube lasts pretty long. There are other compounds that I use very sparingly in comparison... This one I don't worry about too much. What I should have done was spread it over the wood before I started the recording.
Michael Christy Its a bit harder than basswood but still quite soft and I believe would take compound well...it's very easily available like at Lowe's... might be worth a shot
"Lind" is the same as "basswood" but in Swedish. :) Btw have you tryed Fallkniven CC4 double sided ceramic sharpening stone? How does it compare grit vice to Spydercos "Double stuff"? Thank's
Vernon Ray I've experimented with a few different kinds of wood, but I'm not sure if I've done pine. But if you're asking if basswood is the same as pine, the answer is no.
You should do a review of all the stropping compounds you use and what the use case is for them. And as always great video man. You are incredibly knowledgeable on knives and have already helped my sharpening skills immensely.
Joel Rice I’m glad the channel has been helpful.
Excellent video. Informative, concise, and objective. Thanks
I like your empirical approach. Nice input!
I finally got some balsa and basswood from a couple of towns over from me at the hobby store. I'm glad I seen you using it. As far as the rougher compounds I like the results so much better than leather for taking off burrs. I guess the harder substrate gives the compounds a little more aggressive cutting power.
crf450r bullet david I agree completely.
currently I'm using a piece of cardboard backing from a notepad amd rubbed it on some dry slurry from an 8k water stone. seems to work pretty well. I ran out of diamond paste so just making due with what I have.
MK116Alex have you looked at compound on Amazon?
Yes but don't know which ones to get. I had a .5 DMT paste. Which ones are the ones you use. I noticed you had some different colored ones. Seen some on Amazon but didn't know if they were good or not. I didn't want to purchase any only to find they had a very small concentrate.
MK116Alex the best I've used are from Wicked Edge, but they're expensive. There's also compounds from Temo. Temo is less expensive and you'll get more compound, and it's a decent compound. I've been using Temo recently quite a bit for strops above 1 micron. Below 1 micron, I've been using diamond emulsion sprays from Ken Schwartz.
I prefer basswood over everything so far. With leather, you have to be more careful with your angle and pressure so that you don't round off your apex. With wood, you can absolutely use the same angle as you do in sharpening, regardless of pressure. Wood is also more aggressive and overall yields a less convexed bevel imo. But I still like leather for finishing when I get to 0.25 or 0.1 micron.
It would be interesting to see how your thoughts on wood stropping have changed over the years.
Also, I'll often use dry diamond powder on wood, or use the powder to increase the concentration of a compound or spray. It cuts very fast. I only have DMT stones (XC, C, F, EF) and will often go from the 1200 grit EF to 6 or even 3 micron diamond powder on wood. It is quite a jump but the powder on wood cuts so aggressively you may be surprised at how well it works. I also have 30 micron powder for burr removal on s110v right off the coarse or fine stone. Interesting stuff, I'd like to see experiment with diamond powder.
The Ace interesting idea
@@michaelchristy4982 I have loaded a small piece of basswood with Tormek PA-70, just as you have many times in the past, and added 3 micron diamond powder before rubbing it in. I let it dry and when I began stropping, one pass yielded a relatively thick, dark gray streak of steel. It's just something you have to experience. I have to keep stropping brief if I don't want an absolute 3 micron edge, as it will remove the existing 1200 grit scratch pattern very quickly. It'll be so mirrored that it's hard to distinguish from 1 or even 0.5 micron (but Tormek PA-70 is capable of such). Looking forward to your next video.
The Ace that’s an interesting idea.
Since basswood has tighter pores does it seem to hold on to compunds better than balsa? Also curious since there is no give in basswood does that increase it decrease wire edges when stropping?
Michael Shults stropping should remove (or help remove) a wire edge.
Both Balsa and Basswood hold compound well, but basswood holds up better from use.
@@michaelchristy4982 Thanks - that's all I needed to know!
Order you some pre-cut 3/8" thick acrylic from taps plastics, and use some 3m/77 adhesive to glue it down. I see you prefer smaller stones or strops, so this would give your strop stability and give you finger room. You can get it cut to any dimensions you want, it helps stabilize the balsa or basswood.
Would love a stropping tutorial, thanks!
Hi Michael. I've found Solvol Autosol to be the best i've used. Much better than the sticks of compound like Flexcut gold! PS. I like to let it dry on the surface before use. The data sheet says its Aluminum Oxide.
pete wright I might look into it.
Basswood is apparently less porous than balsawood, which might make it better for stropping.
Great video. I'll pick up a few pieces of Basswood and try them out
-Josh Desautels
I'd be interested to hear what results you get, or if you find you just prefer the basswood over balsa.
This video explains a lot about what I've wanted to know about wooden strops.
I have been using a leather strop for the past year, and although I can get a pretty good edge I haven't been impressed at all with the performance, when it gets dirty, you can't clean it easy.
Would a thicker piece of basswood be as good as a strop? I'm thinking of taking your idea of disposable wooden strops but I'm more of a clean it up use it again guy.
What would you buy to use, if you had to use it everyday? Right now I have basswood on my list regardless just to try out.
I find that once you go above 2.5 micron, or maybe even 1 micron, the strop loads quickly with steel and stops cutting fast. For lower micron strops, (1 and below), I'll use the wooden strops more then once. Anything above that, and the strop loads after a few uses. I buy the basswood in larger pieces and cut out each strop. I replace the larger grit strops each time to get maximum effect for my time. You could probably stretch the use out, but for me, I don't mind.
A thicker piece would only cost more, if you look at it the way I look at it. I've also found what seems like a loss of surface stability with wood strops used over and over with diamond sprays. (I think the liquid eventually begins to challenge the integrity of the surface.).
I like to have the wood just thick enough to support the activity.
+Michael Christy That's good to know. I've been looking at compounds all day I can't decide what to buy what do you use?
+Michael Christy besides the tormeck in this video.
+Caleb Green Wicked Edge makes the best quality compound that I've used, but it's also the most expensive. Temo is good and it costs less.
Try a old word search book. The paper is very "woody feeling" and makes a fine hone. I go from that to the whit pages in the phone book. Give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for another good video. I admire your skills
Highly skilled 😃👏👍
I’ve been using poplar for years. Little bit harder and easy to grab at HD.
How does that compare to paper?
I'd have to try comparing different kinds of paper to see, but it's an interesting question.
Cliff Stamp I've used the cardboard on notepads and seems to work pretty well.
Isn't that a lot of compound?
It may be more then what's needed, but it's inexpensive and a tube lasts pretty long. There are other compounds that I use very sparingly in comparison... This one I don't worry about too much.
What I should have done was spread it over the wood before I started the recording.
pine?
Good point!
A wooden paint stirring stick works pretty well for me. Even ordinary 2x4 construction lumber.
I bet poplar would work well
Bruce Schaub it might. I’ve tried a few different kinds of wood, but I don’t think poplar was one of them.
Michael Christy Its a bit harder than basswood but still quite soft and I believe would take compound well...it's very easily available like at Lowe's... might be worth a shot
Bruce Schaub it’s interesting. I might look into it.
For Swedish viewers Basswood="Lind" if i got it right...? Thanks for shoving!
Jorgen Sandstrom I don't know what Lind is.
"Lind" is the same as "basswood" but in Swedish. :) Btw have you tryed Fallkniven CC4 double sided ceramic sharpening stone? How does it compare grit vice to Spydercos "Double stuff"? Thank's
Jorgen Sandstrom I understand now.
I have not tried the Fallkniven stone, but I probably should. You're not the first person to mention it.
have you tried newspaper ? works for me
Lee Michel you mean plain news paper?
Good objective video.
Thank you.
I use walnut and its great.
A little OCD are we?
Kevin King if you’re going to do a UA-cam channel with as much focus on a subject as mine, don’t you have to be?
pine?
Vernon Ray I've experimented with a few different kinds of wood, but I'm not sure if I've done pine. But if you're asking if basswood is the same as pine, the answer is no.