Imade a couple paddles

What do you think of these stropping paddles. I used soft 4/5 oz veg tan leather on both sides and stamped my logo and the grit .25 and .50 on the other side. I would like to know should I go with the diamond paste in the syringe in .25 and .50 or should I use spray. I also would like to know should I work a little neets foot oil into the leather to prep before I use the paste or spray.I used maple for the wood if you all wanted to know. thanks kellyw http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/n...0/HPIM2538.jpg http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/n...0/HPIM2539.jpg

I am glad I looked at this today, I was about to go and buy some wood to make a paddle myself, I am bored.

I wonder if anyone could reply to my post. I really dont know much about honing razors the highest ive ever gone on a knife is 3000 grit. I use to hone years ago on a arkinsaw stone now use my knife grinder with special belts and my tormek sharpener. I recently learned to get a razor shave ready you need at least 8 k stone to get it ready and to strop it. I made these paddles so I can do just that but dont know whether I should use the diamond paste or the spray. Paste is cheap like 5 bucks for a syringe.25 and .50 I think would be good after honing on a 8 k water stone . Please someone let me know if this is correct. If something else is better let me know. kellyw

while im no expert i believe paste is the way to go on leather

I have never used the spray, just a dry powder mixed with some oil/cream then apply sparingly and rubbed or bottled into the leather. The paste I also dilute first with the same oil/cream. Nothing magical about the oil, mineral oil is fine, hand cream or face cream etc. You might want to add a 3rd paddle to finish with and apply some 0.5 micron Chrome Ox . It really smooths the edge. Available from ChrisL in the classifieds, a small amount for a very small price.

Hope this helps,:)

Either will work. Dilute the paste to a milk like consistency with water then brush on with an fine, flat synthetic brush. Use one brush for each grit, do not use the same brush for both grits, you will contaminate the paddles. You will never be able to wash out all the diamond from the brush. I mark the used brushes for re application.

Or you can dilute the paste with alcohol, to the consistency of Skim Milk then spray on the paddles from a spray bottle, shake well before spraying. Small 2 oz plastic pump spray bottles can be purchased from a craft store.

Either way you won’t need much. Additionally do not strop excessively Diamond cuts quickly. Wipe the blade thoroughly before stropping or you will contaminate your plain strop and most probably never get it out. With Diamond “Less is More” both in application and stropping. You can always add more diamond or strop another stroke or two.

I find stropping on Nylon after the paddle works best. The nylon buffs the edge and cleans off the residue. I have marked nylon strops for different grits. Then onto plain, clean leather to finish.

Oil will give you more draw, I don’t think you need it for what you expect to accomplish, unless you leather is dried out.

Marty

Thanks Randy , Marty those are what I was looking for to anser my questions. I appreciate all the people who have helped me out. I have learned knives that are sharp are dull compared to a dull razor and a sharp razor has no equal. kellyw