Thread: 1K pasted MDF Strop

Well, as I mentioned in this thread, I got hold of some coarse honing powders (400, 1K, 1.5K and 3K) and I got it in my head to see how they'd do in lieu of hones. I tried the first one out today.

I started with MDF--Medium Density Fiberboard. It's more readily available here than balsa, and it's cheap and starts out flat. I started with a piece that's 30cmx10cm--pretty huge. I cut off about 3cm to make a slimmer hone, and to make a "ripe stick", as I believe KevinT called it.

I mixed the powder with some cutlery oil and brushed it on with a cheap boar brush. This didn't work too well...the "paste" was much too thick and clumped up, so after I had brushed the area enough to prime it with oil, I spread some powder on liberally with my finger.

I used less than a gram, I'd say...and I have 75g. So...yeah, I can do this a couple times.

So that was the strop. I decided to test it out on a couple of razors. I had one that I had honed a frown out of but hadn't done anything else to it. I dulled it on class (I know, I know...) and stropped. After a while, not too long...maybe 40 passes?? 50?? I didn't count...I had a nice, sticky bevel. First success!!

Then, I had this freaking Rongin razor. It has been giving me fits. This one has a fantastic bevel up to the front inch or so of the blade. I figured hey, why not? And gave it a go. About 20 minutes later...

SUCCESS!!!!! The strop worked where the hones had failed...Oh my oh my am I HAPPPYYYYY!!!!!!

The effects are interesting. Instead of a scratch pattern, they give more of a "speckled" look like a nakayama or coticule...you get a very shiny bevel even off of 1K.

Tomorrow is the 3K, and when my Diamond pastes get here, we'll see how far we can take this madness!!!

Here's the strop after the above bevel work. Pretty dark...problem with swarfing, do you reckon?

ohhh. perhaps you mean; meant kennyG?

Kiri, paulownia is nearly basla. If you want soft wood, I would guess available there.

Congrats on your success

Originally Posted by kevint

ohhh. perhaps you mean; meant kennyG?

Kiri, paulownia is nearly basla. If you want soft wood, I would guess available there.

Congrats on your success

Oh, yeah...actually I was just confused by your successful light jazz career. Sorry about that.


Ahhhh, yeah...paulownia. That's what they make the razor boxes out of, isn't it? I forgot about that. Thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah Jim!!! Since Chris was too busy to try the diamond strop you won by default. YOU BUY BEER It is very interesting that you were able to get formerly "challenged" razors and have success. You never know what you are going to get until you try. So what do you call this contraption?
I think the coolest thing about it is that you did it with a grit that low.
Mike

Jim,
Are you going to shave test it as is?? If the bevel look like you just came off a coti maybe it will feel like it too. Give it a shave for goodness sake before you start the next grit. Maybe the grit is breaking down and by the time you finish it is a huge change. You are going to implode if you don't slow down Now go shave!!!! Hurry!!
M

Way to go, Jim. So I understand correctly: You backhoned the entire time? Stropping motion with spine leading and edge trailing? I assume that's what you did. If so, that's great. Very cool.

Oh, and I don't think you have to worry about swarf having a negative effect and if it does eventually, you'll know it. You could always re-scrub the MDF with oil and reapply the abrasive or, chuck the MDF and just make a new hone.




Chris L

Sorry mates, I've been a bit busy with other things, haven't got the 3K up and running yet.

Chris, I was stropping all the way except on the stubborn razor, where I tried some circles. It quickly wore some of the powder off, though, so I stopped.

Michael, You know, I might just try that...though I'm sure the grit isn't breaking down. According to Naniwa, GC is almost as hard as diamond, so probably not much chance of it breaking down against steel and MDF.

As far as the name, I was thinking..."Gabor"? Or perhaps Morton Gilchrist...

Jim when you apply your diamond paste, try mixing with a few drops of water and apply with a fine brush. I used a 1/2 inch synthetic artist brush. The water dries in a few minutes and you are good to go. The fine brush gives an even application.

I used a bead of about 3/8 of an inch from the syringe to cover a 3 inch X 12 strop. Use enough water to make a liquid about the consistency milk, adding a drop at a time and mixing with the brush. Mine are much thinner than is in your photos.

I also made one from MDF with good results. I used Diamond power for the course grit.

I also recently made a paddle from thin foam glued over balsa. Applied .25 diamond paste as above with great results. This has the draw of leather and can be cleaned off with WD40 and re applied.

I’d like to try some of these powders.

Marty

Originally Posted by M Martinez

Jim when you apply your diamond paste, try mixing with a few drops of water and apply with a fine brush. I used a 1/2 inch synthetic artist brush. The water dries in a few minutes and you are good to go. The fine brush gives an even application.

I used a bead of about 3/8 of an inch from the syringe to cover a 3 inch X 12 strop. Use enough water to make a liquid about the consistency milk, adding a drop at a time and mixing with the brush. Mine are much thinner than is in your photos.

I also made one from MDF with good results. I used Diamond power for the course grit.

I also recently made a paddle from thin foam glued over balsa. Applied .25 diamond paste as above with great results. This has the draw of leather and can be cleaned off with WD40 and re applied.

I’d like to try some of these powders.

Marty

That's excellent...I've just got in my diamond paste and was going to ask about application. The paste in the photo is me mixing oil with some powder--winging it, as it were. But that's good advice...I'll try it tonight!

Thanks Marty!