Gummy Amplex on 4-Sided Paddle Strop

About six months ago I tried to re-paste the diamond sides of my 4-sided paddle strop using Amplex that I got from Tony M (3.0, 1.0 and 0.5 micron). The plastic tubs of pastes had sat around so long that they appeared to be dried out (I must not have closed the plastic tubs securely). So I mixed a couple of drops of water with the Amplex that was in the tubs and applied the pastes. After waiting a couple of weeks, I tried to use the paddle strop. Unfortunately, the Amplex had not dried and was gummy. It stuck to my razor. I ended up using some cloth to remove all of the Amplex from the leather. This rendered the stop for the most point, unusable.

Recently, I purchased syringes of Amplex and re-pasted the strop as shown on the B&B Wiki. I applied a very thin layer of paste to the appropriate sides and let it dry for a week, or so. I was able to strop my razor, but things didn't seem to be quite right. After a week, I added another very thin layer of Amplex and let it dry for another week. Tonight I tried to strop my razor and I had gummy Amplex again. Instead of the original white/light grey, the Amplex appears to be almost tan (like the unpasted leather).

I wonder what I'm doing wrong, since the Amplex should have had plenty of time to dry. (I do not store the strop near any moisture source.)

Has anyone experienced this?

Also, do I need to 'treat'/clean the leather before applying Amplex again?

i did, i found that the amplex paste took some drying . and the leather does'nt seem to hold the amplex paste that well. i have since got the bio paste from ti on one of there four sided paddles. all i can say is it much better. the razor does'nt stick etc.

what i found was i added a cou[ple a drops of water on the leather and rubed it around that worked. or even wipe of and reaply paste with very thin layer. I now use diamond spray on felt and it is so much better no mess at all ,just spray and away you go.

Some time ago they changed the formulation. You need to make sure you apply it SPARINGLY and even then it will take a week or more to dry. If you really put it on it could take many weeks to dry.

Something had to have changed with their pastes. I have had the same thing with my 3.0 and 1.0. Sometimes it dries but many times it does not. Just a year ago I had no trouble letting it dry a few days and was left with a fine chalky residue.

Dampening the leather first helps it sink in but the drying is an issue now with Amplex.

Tony

I'm glad to hear that it isn't something that I did wrong.

It actually has almost an oily feeling now. Sparingly as previously mentioned is really key. I would even say near invisible would be the best. You don't need much of it.

Good luck,

Lynn

Lynn,
Oily is exactly how I would describe it. The paste feels nothing like it used to feel when it is applied. Initially it was a little hard to spread as it felt almost sticky as the leather would draw the moisture right out of the paste. Now it glides on too easily but does not dry as it did before.

Tony