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CBN Sharpening Compound
CBN (cubic boron nitride) sharpening compound solves a problem traditional abrasives cannot, cutting cleanly through the dense carbides in modern high performance blade steels. DLT Trading stocks CBN emulsion in six micron grades from 16 down to 0.5, in 1oz and 2oz dropper bottles, for the steels where oxide based sharpening compounds stall out. Our knife sharpening guide shows where CBN fits in a full sharpening progression.
Why CBN Works on High Carbide Steels
Cubic boron nitride is the second hardest abrasive after diamond. Steels like S90V, M390, MagnaCut, and 10V get their edge retention from hard vanadium and chromium carbides, and those same carbides are harder than the aluminum oxide and chromium oxide in traditional compound bars. At fine grits, an oxide compound starts skating over the carbides instead of cutting them. CBN is hard enough to cut them cleanly, which is why it, along with diamond, is the standard finishing abrasive for super steels. It works on simpler carbon and stainless steels too, so one set of CBN emulsions can cover a mixed collection.
CBN Emulsion Micron Grades
Each grade has a grit equivalent for comparison to stones and compound bars. Choose 16 micron (1,000 grit) in 1oz and 2oz to restore a worn edge, 8 micron (2,000 grit) in 1oz and 2oz to refine it, and 4 micron (4,000 grit) in 1oz and 2oz for a fine working edge. Then move to 2 micron (8,000 grit) in 1oz and 2oz and 1 micron (16,000 grit) in 1oz and 2oz for a high polish, and finish with 0.5 micron (32,000 grit) in 1oz and 2oz for mirror level refinement. Every bottle has a screw off lid with a dropper tip, so you put the emulsion exactly where you want it.
Loading a Strop With CBN
Apply the emulsion from the dropper tip and spread a thin, even layer across the leather strop. Dedicate one strop to each micron grade so coarser abrasive never contaminates a finer surface, and work from coarse to fine. Firm vegetable tanned leather holds the abrasive well and keeps the apex crisp under light stropping pressure. CBN is the final step after sharpening stones or a guided sharpening system, and a few passes between sharpenings keep a super steel edge keen for far longer.
CBN Strop Kits
To start from scratch, a kit pairs a strop with two CBN grades of your choice. The DLT XL Double Sided Paddle Strop CBN Kit includes our XL strop with two 1oz bottles, and the Ambush Pro Series CBN Kit pairs the premium Ambush Pro strop with two 1oz bottles. A double sided strop lets you run two grades on one tool, a coarser grade on one side and a finer grade on the other.