Thread: Diagnois: diamond paste - leather hone

As Lynn demonstrates on his video I've applied 0.5 micron (mono-crystal) diamond paste to a HandAmerican full grain horse leather bench hone (new magnetic version). After drying the leather 48 hours @ 90 deg F, the draw with a Dovo Black star is EXTREME... not a dry raspy feel - but more of a thick grease feel. The compound is scraped off onto the edge and spine and slides in a jerky, sticky way across the hone. Using no pressure, then tried with light, then medium pressure - all the same results. Touching the hone feels slightly heavy and very slightly greasy - not dry, dusty, or light. Edge is polished under the microscope. The paste is supposedly water-based and is via Ted Pella ( http://www.tedpella.com/polish.htm ). I'm using the diamond paste after honing on the 4/8k Norton. I've tried thick coats, thin coats, pressure/compression during drying, finger application, and squeege application - all to no avail.

Is this normal for diamond paste on a leather bench hone?

Should it not produce a dry raspy sound with a light to medium draw?

Did they send me oil-based paste instead of water-based?

Anyone buy diamond compound from Ted Pella recently?

-Thanks fellas.