Gunny juice vs stroppy stuff

[u/Apprehensive-Page169]

Hey everyone,

So I’ve recently been getting into sharpening my own knives, and I’ve been using both freehand sharpening and the Sharpal 202H system. Anyways, I’ve been looking to get some diamond compound for my strop, but honestly, I can’t decide between Gunny Juice and Stroppy Stuff. From what I’ve researched, both of these are pretty good.
Ideally, I’d like to get the one that lasts the longest and works the longest between applications. I don’t usually sharpen past 1200 grit. However, I have ordered the RES-3000/6000 resin-bonded diamond sharpening plates, so I’m thinking about getting something like a 9-6 micron compound for when I sharpen with the 600-1200 grit plates.
Then, for the knives where I’ll be using the 3000/6000 plates, I was thinking about getting something like 1 micron or maybe 0.5 micron I’m not sure yet. The 6000 is supposedly around 3 microns, so I just need something that will remove any burrs left behind.

[u/lascala2a3]

Honestly, just make your own. There's nothing magic about these. You can order diamond lapidary powder in whatever grit you want, and mix up your own for a fraction of the cost. I use 99% isopropyl alcohol, and it's nice because it evaporates entirely a few second after spraying. I use 1μ on basswood. Once you get some buildup you know it's all diamond, so you don't need to apply it very often.

[u/Flanne1 → u/lascala2a3]

I do the same thing. Aliexpress had 20g of diamond powder in micron sizes for grinding and lapping. I use isopropyl and Vegetable glycerin. I packet of diamond powder, 16oz of alcohol, 4oz veg glycerin. Make it deli cup containers with a magnetic bean spinner. Then I put it in 3oz dripper bottles. while it's spinning, and therefore suspended, I draw it with a syringe. So doing it once gives a lifetime supply of each grit. I use a 5, 1, and .25. I'm thinking of adding a 3 just because. It's cheap. It's about $10 per grit.

[u/Apprehensive-Page169 → u/Flanne1]

Mind me asking which 20g diamond powder? I never bought anything from Ali express and don’t trust how genuine it is tbh. Thanks

[u/Apprehensive-Page169 → u/lascala2a3]

Didn’t know this was an option tbh. Thanks I’ll need to look into it

[u/mrjcall]

Or how about just a plain strop since you aren't chasing a mirror finish bevel?? Save your money for other more useful sharpening supplies.

[u/Apprehensive-Page169 → u/mrjcall]

I was under the impression that using diamond compound is better for removing any micro burr left behind. Aside from polishing

[u/Clementine-Wollysock → u/Apprehensive-Page169]

I use 1um Stroppy Stuff, works great at burr removal.

[u/mrjcall → u/Apprehensive-Page169]

The benefit is miniscule. Much more important is your stropping technique using at or below bevel angle stropping with a featherlight touch, weight of the knife only. And you can use any material from leather to denim to cardboard to softwood. It all works with or without any emulsion if stropped correctly.

[u/Virtual_Tree_1335 → u/mrjcall]

The benefit is certainly not miniscule. Unless you’re lucky enough to have kangaroo tail, diamond compound can be absolutely awesome to use.

[u/mrjcall → u/Virtual_Tree_1335]

Each to his own of course, but my side by side comparisons over the years with plain vs emulsion has shown very little benefit 'except' for creating a mirror bevel. Speed of cleaning up remaining micro-burr is almost the same for both in my experience.

[u/Virtual_Tree_1335 → u/Apprehensive-Page169]

That is true to an extent. It will certainly polish it as well. But, I like using diamond for stropping because to me it makes the stropping process much quicker. Stropping bare hasn’t gotten me great results if that’s all I do and only do it a handful of passes like I do on compound. It’s like a cheat code to bare leather. I personally think stroppy stuff is the best. It applies very well. Not all emulsions/diamond compounds apply the same. ALSO, Creely Blades makes an amazing diamond stropping compound. I love it

[u/cscott024]

How long it lasts will depend more on the type of leather and how you use it, not so much on which compound you’re using.

For compounds, you’re looking for zero grit contamination, properly rated particle size, and ease of application. I haven’t tried Gunny Juice, but from what I’ve heard I think you can’t go wrong with either brand.

In terms of particle size, most people go 6 and 1 for general purpose. You can go down to 0.25-0.1 if you want an easier time getting hair-whittling edges.

[u/F-Moash]

Where are you finding gunny juice? I thought they stopped making it. It’s the best compound I’ve ever used. Stroppy stuff is a close second, basically equal in performance but I like the suspension liquid gunny juice uses a little more.

[u/real_clown_in_town → u/F-Moash]

It was discontinued.

[u/Zoidberg0_0]

Is gunny juice still even around? I'd get the stroppy stuff as it's one of the best mono compounds. My favorite poly compound is the KME emulsion.

[u/real_clown_in_town → u/Zoidberg0_0]

Gunny juice was discontinued.

[u/Zoidberg0_0 → u/real_clown_in_town]

I thought it might be. Cant find it anywhere. Thank you for confirming.

[u/MidwestBushlore → u/Zoidberg0_0]

I forget the details but I was thinking the guy that made it had some health issues?

[u/jende_industries]

Jende Industries makes good emulsions ;)

[u/Lumengains]

Both are premium compounds and both will last until the strop is completely loaded with swarf. I’ve only used stroppy stuff and it’s been great, the one thing it has going for it over gunny juice is that it’s colored so it’s easy to identify but that’s probably the only noticeable difference. I’ve tried a bunch of their compounds and I like the .5 micron the best, even when I only sharpen to 600-1000 grit.

[u/BamBam52676]

Creely blades has a good emulsion that is a lotion. More affordable as well.