BUFFING WHEEL

Solve those sharpening woes!!  We don't have a lot of spare time and when
we do, we like to save it for carving.  This means we look for ways to cut
down sharpening time.  Although we want to spend less time sharpening, it
doesn't mean that we will settle for a less than sharp blade.  We use this
buffing wheel to return a razor sharp edge to all of our tools.  

Why use this particular buffing wheel?  Leather, felt, rubber and paper have
a tendency to "round" or create an artifical bevel on the blade because they
don't give when the blade is pressed against them.  So extreme caution has
to be taken when using them.  This wheel is made of several layers of STIFF
canvas cloth.  The cloth will give just enought to cover all of the surface 
area.  There are several layers to dispate the heat.

This wheel is easy to use and doesn't require a delicate touch.  You can 
push as hard or as lightly as you choose.  Just charge the wheel up with some
of our green strop compound (Fine grit al oxide in a wax base) and don't use
too much.  Burs on the back side of a gouge are removed by holding the gouge
upright and just pushing it against the edge of the wheel a couple or three
times.

Be aware that, as with any device that turns, there is danger.  Be sure to
lock the wheel tightly on your grinder and hold the tool you are buffing
tightly with both hands with your elbows locked into your sides.  Don't turn
the tool's edge into the wheel but just press the bevel only against the
wheel.

We use a grinder that turns toward us.  We have found that with this direction
it is easier to buff knives and with the wheel turning away from us it is
easier to buff gouges.  Either way is fine as long as you observe the
necessary safety percautions.  Our grinder turns at 3450 rpm.

Remember:  heat is your enemy when sharpening not speed!

The wheel comes in an 8" or 6" size with a 1/2" arbor hole.  Choose the size 
that fits your area.  Either size works just as well.  The factory charges
us the same for a 6" or 8".

BUFFING COMPOUND

We use this green compound to put a razor edge on all of our tools.  Just 
charge up the buffing wheel and buff.  Don't use a lot but a little more
is sometimes required when removing the wire edge after you have just
put a new edge on a blade.  The green compound is best for keeping an edge
on a blade while the coarser compounds (black, grey, brown, red, etc) are
generally used when making knives.  We are using the green in picture above.

BASIC SHARPENING STROP

Our basic strop will satisfy most of your stropping needs.  It is about
12" x 1 1/2" and has the fuzzy side of the leather turned up for best
results.  Use the al oxide listed below for the strop abrasive.  Comes
in 1 sided or 2 sided.  Comes with stropping instructions.  

ECONOMY SHARPENING STROPS

Want a good strop and save money?  These strops are made from the same material as 
our more expensive strops.  The only difference is that the leather is pieced together
instead of one piece.  Works the same but you save money.  Buy a bunch for classes or
for your club.  Looks different works great!

AL OXIDE STROP ABRASIVE

  
RAZORSHARP STROP

This is the ultimate in strops!  Our best strop has 3 sides of leather with
the 4th side being a nylon webbing.  Each side has a v-shaped channel in
it for stropping small v-tools and veiners.  Strop comes with instructions
and black, white and green compounds.  Use ALL four sides for the really 
tough jobs.  Rub the black compound on the 1st side, the white compound 
on the 2nd side, the 3rd side is plain for cleaning the blade and getting 
it ready the final honing.  Put the green compound on the 4th side.  Usually 
you would only use the 4th side for stropping but you can almost start from
scratch by using all 4 sides. V-tool problems?  No problem with this strop
by using the v-channels in the strop.  You will be amazed.  Overall length
of the strop is about 12".  Comes with instructions and compound.

  
ULTIMATE SHARPENING STROP

This all-in-one strop should satisfy all of your sharpening needs.  This heavy-duty strop
is 11" long and 2 1/4" wide.  One side is for knives, chisels and gouges.  The other side
has a place for 3 different size gouges.  You can strop the inside and outside of the gouges.
It also has 3 channels for v-tools and small veiners, plus 3 leather "ridges" for the inside
of v-tools.  We recommend Yellow Stone strop abrasive (on this page).

DIAMOND HONING STONES

HONING OIL

Use on any stone.  3.5 oz  


			
					ITEM


			
					CATALOG NUMBER


			
					PRICE



		
		

			3.5 oz Honing Oil
		
		
		

			WA028
		
		
		

			$2.50 ea
		
	

	
ARKANSAS OIL STONE




Comes in plastic case.  3" x 1 1/4".    

POWER STROP

YELLOWSTONE STROP COMPOUND

Herb Dunkle and family have spent a goodly amount of time convincing us that
Yellowstone is the best strop abrasive.  They talked about a lot of technical
details as to why but all we know is that it works.  Just a little on the
strop is all that it takes for a razor edge. 1" x 1"x 4" block.



			
					ITEM


			
					CATALOG NUMBER


			
					PRICE



		
		

			Yellowstone (really it is peach colored)
		
		
		

			SH005
		
		
		

			$6.25 ea