How to go about applying jewelers rouge to a leather strop?

E

Eva-01

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Jun 8, 2013
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If this is in the wrong sub section I apologies in advance.


I am wondering how I should go about applying jewelers rouge to a soft leather strop. I have become quite big into sharpening I have been using 2000 grit wet and dry paper for some time now to try and improve the edges on my knives and axe. From little snippets of information from what I have been told jewelers rouge will improve the stropping when applied to the strop. So I now have a big bag of red jewelers rouge powder a soft leather strop glued to a stick and a knife that wants to get a sharper edge.

I have been googleing it for some time and have not really come across any particular method for applying it. But I'm assuming there is someway to do it unless I just sprinkle it on and work from there?


also while im on the topic is there any advantages to the type of leather used when stropping? Should I have more than 1 strop and work from soft up to hard or vice versa?
 
Mix the powder with a little bit of mineral oil or WD-40. I've actually used some mineral oil-based hand lotion for the same purpose, and it works as well. After it's mixed, just rub the compound into the leather with your fingertips (disposable gloves are handy for this). Any oil-based suspension will help the compound 'dust' adhere to the leather, so it won't flake away or create a dust cloud later, when it dries a bit.

You might find the red compound to be somewhat disappointing. It's iron oxide and pretty soft stuff, as compared to steel. It's usually used for buffing softer metals, like jewelry (gold, silver, brass, etc.), and sometimes won't be effective on hardened knife steel, especially stainless steels. If you get a chance, you might try some green compound (chromium oxide) instead, as it works better as a 'rouge' for most common hardened steel blades.

It's generally better to keep the leather as firm and/or thin as possible, to avoid compressing it under the blade edge and rounding the apex of the edge. How many strops you make or use is up to you; I'd encourage you to try as many as you can afford to, with different leathers, wood, etc., as well as various compounds.


David
 
thanks for the reply i'll see if I can pick up some mineral or baby oil 2morrow ^_^
 
If its true red rouge (iron oxide) then it will not work on hard metal. It is made for final polishing of soft metals such as gold because it will not produce scratches.
 
where would be a good place to get chromium oxide in ireland or the UK and do I use the substance when wet or is that only got rubbing it into the strop and then it drys to be useable?
 
Last edited:
Eva-01 said:
where would be a good place to get chromium oxide in ireland or the UK and do I use the substance when wet or is that only got rubbing it into the strop and then it drys to be useable?
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I'd think you could find the green compound in places where bench grinders/buffers are sold (this is how the compound is most often used), or in woodworking outlets, or hardware stores. More than likely, compound found at these locations will be in bar/stick form (sometimes called 'crayon' form). Usually easiest to just 'draw' the compound onto leather (as if using a crayon), when in this form.

The powdered form of green compound might be found in lapidary shops (I recently found some this way), or ordered online. It can also be mixed with mineral oil, as with the other powdered compound. Let it dry for perhaps a day; it works better that way. Be careful with the powdered stuff; it's a lung hazard if the dust is inhaled. Don't know if there are environmental/health restrictions on the sale of it in the U.K. or Europe; it's not an issue here in the U.S.


David
 
I like to rub the stick of compound onto the strop like a crayon and then buff it into the surface with a paper towel with a little bit of wd40/mineral spirits on it.
 
Eva-01 said:
where would be a good place to get chromium oxide in ireland or the UK and do I use the substance when wet or is that only got rubbing it into the strop and then it drys to be useable?
Click to expand...

I was watching youtube vids the other day regarding the sharpening of spoon woodcarving knives and the guy in the video was from Ireland. At some point (can't remember if he mentioned it) I realized that he sold woodcarving knives and supplies.

From my experience and research, the compounds that the woodcarving supply sellers sell is excellent stuff and perfect for knives. It's almost always formulated specifically for use on strops. Flexcut Gold comes to mind, and there are others as well, white gold is another, though that may be American. Either way I'd do a search for woodcarving compound.

Oh and it's usually pretty inexpensive too.
 
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