Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm going to try using the leather strap and various compounds to get the razor sharp edge.

Dave is sending out the leather, but I'm sure other old leather would work too. I have this old pair of loafers I may just disassemble to give it a try.

Today after linking to some compounds available on MSCdirect.com, I called my local Ace Hardware. They had it in stock.

They had a sample pack with four cuts, Tripoli, Emery, White Jewelers Rouge, and Red Jewelers Rouge. The Tripoli was for polishing brass, aluminum, and copper.

Those were small samples apparently the product slides out the end of a cardboard tube for use? I wanted a larger size for stock. $6.99 for two ounce each included all four.

I got individual tubes of red and white jewelers rouge, and the Emery which was for heavy cut on steel, thought that would be good for major sharpening and cut, then go to the rouges. These were four or eight ounce, about $3.33 each.

Looking forward to this form of sharpening, we'll see how it goes.Dickey38396.0240393519

Bruce, Please don't forget to use a wet stone for the first go around before using the leather. It's important to get a good edge first, then the leather with the buffing compounds can really fine tune that edge. Once you have a great edge, you only need to go to the leather between uses, to get that superior sharpness you need.
Nuff sed!!!
WalterK WalterK38396.0428125

T'anks

leather went out 2/12/05. s/b at everyones door within three days.

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

For hand stropping, I use valve grinding compound: carborundum and oil.
Works well to remove the wire edge and give a clean cutting edge.

I can't see spending an inordinate amount of time polishing by hand
unless you're working on gold or silver. That's why they call it "jeweler's
rouge" instead of "luthier's rouge."

I used to grind a few VW valves, lapping them in by hand, I bet I still have an old dried up tin.

The green chromium oxide compound works nicely for power
stropping. Faster cutting than rouge.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Where would you get that product?

Lee Valley has it. The Veritas honing compound, on the page that
has the felt wheels. BTW, if you use those felt wheels, I've found that
you can size them when they are new with thin shellac and it stiffens
them up so they don't round the tool edge so much.Howard Klepper38397.8934143518

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.