Jewellers Rouge

[Harag]

I'm looking at making a Strop and found that I need a hard surface (leather, cardboard etc) and some Jewellers Rouge. The latter I know nothing about so after looking into rouge I found that Tandy do a white one, seen a green one in some videos and I've also see red ones. I've seen it in ether Powder form or bar form, I'm guessing I need the bar.

What I don't understand is the difference between the colours and which is used for stopping swivel blades.

I've bit the bullet and bought the below - not knowing on the size needed. My better half has told me this would last me 20 years

http://www.amazon.co...d/dp/B00BEHXS1G

Because of all the different colours, will this "red" one do the job? What is the difference between the colours?

Many thanks

[humperdingle]

I bought one like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tandy-Jewellers-Rouge-3323-00-Veg-Tan-Leather-Work-Stropping-Compound-/330903365649?pt=UK_Crafts_Leathercraft_LE&hash=item4d0b60a811

But haven't used it yet!

I don't really have anything to sharpen with a strop yet, as I use Stanley blades to cut leather (!)

[Jax]

different abrasives have different colours, after reading stuff here & there, Ive come to the conclusion that the Tandy stuff aint all that good, I have used it for years, not knowing there were better alternatives, I have just bought these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360612828048?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200905663189?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

rub onto a piece of card like whats on the back of an A4 pad, it does seem alot better.

[RiverCity]

If you have a Lowes home improvement store close to you, go there. In the power tool section, you will find different polishing compounds (sticks) near the cloth buffing wheels etc. Buy the white one for 5-6 bucks. Will pretty much last you a lifetime. Its 2-3 times the size of the Tandy stick, and probably both come from the same manufacturer.

The white is what you want for basic stropping like swivel knifes etc. If you are sharpening finer edges, the green is the way to go.

Hope this helps.

Chuck

[Harag]

Thanks all, but as I've already bought the red one metioned in my original post, will this one be ok, or should I put it to one side and buy a different colour one?

[mikesmith648]

In terms of "coarsness" the white is the most coarse, followed by green and then red........AI have not personally used red and usually stay with the green........might need to strop more but it should work

[Cyberthrasher]

Read through some of the stropping and sharpening threads that are stickied around here. There's one long conversation that takes place somewhere regarding the colors and how they AREN'T standardized. Most people recommend the green stuff. I have some white that I purchased that seems to be about the same coarseness of the standard green. I'm not talking Tandy's white jeweler's rouge though. This is a white honing compound.

Here's some of the information I was referring to:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=33539

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=36221

[Harag]

Thanks again, Since the block I seem to have bought is large and as some of you suggest should do the job, but need to strop more, I'll give it a go. If all else fails, I'll look around for the green block which seems to be the one to use.

[robertmeco]

You might also try '

www.leatherwranglers.com

Edited April 11, 2013 by robertmeco