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CBN Sharpening Compound
CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) sharpening compounds solve a specific problem that traditional abrasives cannot — efficiently cutting through the dense carbide structures found in modern high-performance blade steels. DLT Trading stocks CBN emulsions across a full range of micron grades, giving you precise control over edge refinement on the steels where conventional sharpening compounds like chromium oxide and aluminum oxide stall out.
Why CBN Outperforms Traditional Compounds on High-Carbide Steels
Cubic Boron Nitride is the second-hardest abrasive material after diamond, and its cutting action on carbide-dense steels is faster and more consistent than either oxide-based compound bars or diamond paste. Steels like S90V, M390, MagnaCut, and 10V pack dense vanadium and chromium carbide structures that give these alloys their exceptional edge retention — but those same carbides resist softer abrasives during the finishing process. CBN cuts through those carbide structures without glazing or stalling, producing a polished apex that holds its edge longer between maintenance cycles. While CBN is purpose-built for high-carbide steels, it works effectively on any blade steel, making it a versatile finishing abrasive for users who maintain a mixed collection of carbon, stainless, and powdered metallurgy blades.
CBN Emulsion Micron Grades and Application
CBN emulsions apply as a liquid — a single drop spread evenly across the strop surface and allowed to dry before use. Available micron grades range from 16 micron (roughly 1000 grit equivalent) for restoring worn edges down through 4 micron for fine finishing that exceeds most factory edge quality, 1 micron for high-polish work, and sub-micron grades for mirror-level refinement. One bottle yields dozens of strop loadings, and each loading handles multiple knives before reapplication is needed. Dedicate one strop per CBN micron grade to prevent cross-contamination between grit levels — kangaroo or firm vegetable-tanned leather strops pair best with CBN emulsions because their dense, non-compressive surface holds the abrasive effectively and maintains clean apex geometry under light stropping pressure. CBN integrates directly into any sharpening workflow as the final step after sharpening stones, benchstones, or guided system work.