[Woodcarver] Question about diamond powder

[George Farrell]

The traditional paste for an abrasive powder for a strop is tallow.
Tallow can be made by taking the fat off of a steak before it is
cooked and heating the beef fat in a clean fry pan until it melts.
When melted, mix the abrasive powder into it.  Tallow is not a
hard waxlike substance.  It is relatively easy to stick a finger
into it to pick up a little to spread.

I have used tallow for years mostly as a lubricant firstly for the
cork in the joints of my clarinet and secondly in the shop to lubricate
screws for driving into particularly hard wood.  Tallow does NOT soak
up moisture.  Soap does which causes iron screws to rust.  The use
of tallow instead of soap for screws was told to me by a very old
cabinet maker.

Happiness is a tall boat and breeze to fill her sails
Have a good day
George