Thread: Leather tools

Ok another newb question.
I started doing leather work.
To hone the swivel knife you use a stick of white jewelers rouge(rub it on card stock) and hone the edge.
I've used it on my pocket knives and those things are crazy sharp!!!
I actually think I can shave with one of my pocket knives...kinda on a bet right now.
So, where in honing the str8 process would this be considered?
All the guys at work want me to sharpen their knives for them.
Any input?

The difference between sharpen knives and honing a razor is the difference between racing bumper cars and NASCAR. It's a whole different concept.

Mixing apples and oranges...you get fruit salad right?
So, you wouldn't even attempt to use the rouge on a str8.

Originally Posted by AmmoHouse

Ok another newb question.
I started doing leather work.
To hone the swivel knife you use a stick of white jewelers rouge(rub it on card stock) and hone the edge.
I've used it on my pocket knives and those things are crazy sharp!!!
I actually think I can shave with one of my pocket knives...kinda on a bet right now.
So, where in honing the str8 process would this be considered?
All the guys at work want me to sharpen their knives for them.
Any input?

Lets start with semantics! If it is white then it is not jewelers rouge, as rouge means basically red which I occasionally use to polish a razor edge or two. I have heard of others using the white compound but I don't remember the results! Take a test drive and see what you get, and tell us how it works out! Remember not to lift the spine as you would with a knife while sharpening!

Originally Posted by AmmoHouse

Mixing apples and oranges...you get fruit salad right?
So, you wouldn't even attempt to use the rouge on a str8.

I rarely use jewelers rouge and I have not used it for sharpening. I sometimes use Dovo red paste on strops but I'm not sure that it is same grade as jewelers rouge. You can experiment with it and you it might work for you. Some of the differences in sharping razors from knives is pressure and angle. Lynn's DVD has a very good sharpening section and I would recommend you watch it to get an idea of what honing a razor entails.

I'm playing with an old junk razor ($5) right now.
Its got some nicks in the blade so I'm trying to hone it out, going slow and trying to work on form.
I'll try the rouge when I think this blade is ready...I can't tear it up, it was a cheapie anyway.
I have Lynns DVD on the way!

Originally Posted by JMS

Lets start with semantics! If it is white then it is not jewelers rouge, as rouge means basically red which I occasionally use to polish a razor edge or two. I have heard of others using the white compound but I don't remember the results! Take a test drive and see what you get, and tell us how it works out! Remember not to lift the spine as you would with a knife while sharpening!

I agree that rouge usually means red, however in the leatherworking industry, jewelers rouge is in fact white, it may not be the same micron size as the red stuff but in all honesty that is what it is called, I am not trying to stir the pot but to verify the terminology if you want to look up on the tandy leather website jewelers rouge and it will in fact be white, all basic swivel knives come with a small amount of "jewelers rouge" and in all honesty I am guessing it is chromium oxide, but for the sake of argument, as an indusrty standard in leatherwork it's refered to as jewelers rouge. The Chromium oxide that I think it is, should be around .5 micron but there is no garuantee that is exactly what it is, I do know that it does remove very small amounts of metal as my swivel knife strop got metalic looking over a short amount of time.
As far as the difference between sharpening knives and straights, KenRup and I have had this discussion before and I can tell you first hand it's a whole different ballgame. I am still trying to figure out a way I can use a polishing stone to really get a nice edge on my knives but I just don't have the steady hands to keep the angle constant. I am trying to create a sharpening jig to make it easier. We shall see how that goes. Good luck,
Kevin

The white stuff breaks down to a finer size faster then green chrome oxide. I think it is titanium oxide. it would be used as a final step in the honing process, much like rottenstone.

To remove nicks use a 1000 grit, I use sandpaper.
That takes 25-75 laps.

kbs...thanks
I know my swivel knife is pretty sharp after using the white rouge
I've used it to sharpen/polish my pocket knives and they're scary sharp.
I may take an old piece of leather and rub it with the stick and see if I can strop with it.
Like I said, I'm gonna keep playing with it and this junk razor...we'll see.
Man this site has lots of good info!!!

Originally Posted by AmmoHouse

kbs...thanks
I know my swivel knife is pretty sharp after using the white rouge
I've used it to sharpen/polish my pocket knives and they're scary sharp.
I may take an old piece of leather and rub it with the stick and see if I can strop with it.
Like I said, I'm gonna keep playing with it and this junk razor...we'll see.
Man this site has lots of good info!!!

Don't get me wrong it is definitely a different ballgame between knives an razors as KenRup has said, but I think the white stuff is probably the same as some of the strop dressings that some use. I think you are on the right track though. I wish you all the luck in the world. I chipped a blade on one of my wapis right after I got it and this is how I fixed it. I took and bought 1/3 sheets of 1500 and 2000 grit wet dry sandpaper. I then put a piece of leather for cushion under the sandpaper and a piece of good flat wood under that. When the chip was about gone I switched to the 2000 grit. After the chip was gone I went straight to the strop and used the pasted strop first a few times just to polish out any rough spots, then I used a plain strop for what seemed like forever. I checked the blade every 20 passes and before stropping it passed the HHT fairly consistently, but it wasn't a pop, it was more of a drag then bend and finally cut. By the time I was done the entire blade would pop hairs and also sliced them in half. It was very interesting. Be careful to read up on honing and stropping first and go slow and carefully.
Good Luck.
kbs_74