Thread: Bentonite Clay stropping dust

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to share something I tried out today that I thought was actually good enough to mention here on the forum.

I bought a tub of Bentonite clay powder from a local health food store(http://www.natureschoice.co.za/bio-f...entonite-clay/) is a very, very fine white/grey powder, often used in homemade shaving soaps for it's lubricating effect. I bought it with the idea that I could use it to bulk up some Zulu Grey dust that I have as a by-product of cutting my hones. My idea is to create a sort of Zulu Grey slurry dust, that can be mixed up and applied to the stone instead of using a slurry stone.. I haven't got around to that as yet, but instead I thought I would test the mild abrasive quality of the Bentonite clay first. So I bought a cheap makeup powder brush from the cosmetics isle(some strange looks while doing that), and then simply used it to dust one of my strops - just enough to whiten the surface. I then took a shave-ready razor (it shaved smoothly enough) and did say 20 light turns on one of my Zulu Greys with just water and then went onto about 40 strokes on the dusted strop.

Well, the result was the smoothest stropped edge I've actually ever felt, appreciably better than just a clean strop - the bentonite clay has a very positive effect on the edge. It also adds a nice smooth gliding draw to the strop - which I prefer to a very heavy draw - I'm just so pleased with the result that I had to share it...

If anyone cares to try this out and let me know how it works for you, I'd really appreciate that. Maybe it's just me, but would be cool to hear if others find this to work?
Next project is working on that ZG slurry dust and seeing how that goes. But I'm super pleased with this dusted strop technique so far...

Cheers guys,
- Mike

I haven't tried the Zulu Gray... yet!

But, I've used Jnat slurry on strops with good results, so your findings about ZG dust on strops doesn't surprise me!

Hi Michael,

Bentonite dry may work as a mild abrasive, but we used it in the oil field to add viscosity and weight to our drilling fluids. Once wet, it's a slick slimey mess. May still work, but thought I'd mention it, and you might want to try it on a piece of stone of lesser value.

hope it works!

Howard

Certain parts of the country have bentonite as the soil and when it rains the soil turns into what they call gumbo. You can't drive on it even with 4WD and if it's thick enough you quickly sink right up to the chassis.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Certain parts of the country have bentonite as the soil and when it rains the soil turns into what they call gumbo. You can't drive on it even with 4WD and if it's thick enough you quickly sink right up to the chassis.

Hey TBS,

Yeah, that's Okla. clay, it's just red here and the stuff we used on the rig was a more grey color. I'd come home and my work clothes would be saturated with the stuff after tripping pipe. I sure got some of those wifely " I hate this stuff stares".

I think it's different. Bentonite is grey not red. The clay is special because it has incredible affinity for water and it causes the molecules to expand and it turns into, well the mess it is. I had a friend who was out west somewhere and the only road was lined with the stuff and it rained and he couldn't leave. He had to wait stranded for two days until the road dried out.

Yeah, I don't know it's chemical or geological makeup, but it's called red gumbo here. It's used in pottery and is like you described in characteristics except it's iron rich causing the red color. So, what ever it is, it's not the type of dirt road you want to be on when it rains, because you'll be there awhile!! Been there, walked out on the grass shoulders and retrieved the vehicle later.

It's all over the place in western Colorado, and God help you if your house foundation rests on the stuff. Yep, slicker than snot when wet. Geologically, if I remember correctly, it got its start as volcanic ash. If you bake it and bust it up a little, you get cat litter.

So, has anyone ever baked a block of it in a kiln then lapped and tried honing on it?

Mike, did you use on leather or linin??

IIRC, bentonite clay is also used in beauty treatments (mud masks, etc). It also has some health benefits when ingested. Bentonite Clay: Health Benefits and Uses Bentonite clay provides a world of health benefits