Leather razor strops...

[KrisNZ]

Hi all, I've just brought a razor strop to keep my Skyline in tune. My question is, do I use a stropping compound or not. if I do, what do I use? Cheers Kris

[singularity35]

Try green compound aka chrome oxide. Pretty inexpensive and should work quite well. If you find out that stropping is not for you, then you're not out much.

[MadMullet]

Greenfor sure or some of that Diamond Spray works well

[knifenut1013]

Nooooooooooooooo!

Use it as-is with no compound.

Which one do you have?

[KrisNZ]

I brought a 2" Rite Edge Razor Strop, looks like an old school barbers one,

[alterview]

You might try loading the rough side with chromium oxide and leaving the smooth side unloaded. It doesn't take much of the chromium oxide. Wipe the blade off prior to using the smooth side.

Another really cheap way to go is a plank of balsa wood from a craft store. The you can leave the nice razor strop plain.

[singularity35]

Nooooooooooooooo!

Use it as-is with no compound.

Which one do you have?

May I know why?

[alterview]

May I know why?

I will give you my reasoning:

1- Plain leather is great for stropping knives. It doesn't refine the edge per se but it can help with flipping a burr back and forth making removal easier.
2- If the OP gets into straight razors, he will want the unloaded leather for stropping prior to each shave.
3- A balsa strop loaded works just as well as a leather loaded strop and it is much less expensive.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Cheers!

[knifenut1013]

May I know why?

A hanging strop is typically a quality cut of horse hide which is one of the best leathers to use for stropping. Horse hide has the highest level of silicates giving it the ability to work quickly and in my experience with any steel from 420HC to S90V. It leaves a unique edge that has a sharpness of a fine compound but retains or enhances the edge left by the stone. You don't use compound with them because they work so well without, putting compound on the strop would be like using A1 on a filet mignon. You ruin it.

[singularity35]

A hanging strop is typically a quality cut of horse hide which is one of the best leathers to use for stropping. Horse hide has the highest level of silicates giving it the ability to work quickly and in my experience with any steel from 420HC to S90V. It leaves a unique edge that has a sharpness of a fine compound but retains or enhances the edge left by the stone. You don't use compound with them because they work so well without, putting compound on the strop would be like using A1 on a filet mignon. You ruin it.

Ok, thanks. Is that for horsehide only?

[knifenut1013]

No, but it depends on the on the quality and user preference. You have cow hide, horse hide, and kangaroo hide all of which yield a different edge and have their own strengths and weaknesses. There are more but those are the three most common.

It's something you need to experience to understand.

[fast14riot]

+1, do not load the strop! Also, DO NOT do the bugs bunny cartoon of whipping the knife back and forth like a mad man. Use a sturdy wall mount, or a door knob and pull the strop very tight to use it. Roll the knife over its spine at the end of the stroke, otherwise you will dull the edge rolling over it or just flicking your wrist at the end of the stroke. I use a balsa bench strop 3/4"x4"x12" loaded with CrO2 then finish on a hanging strop. Also, try a plain linen or denim strop before the leather, it will help.

Practice accurate stropping to start, speed will come after that.


-Xander

[KuRUpTD]

Please excuse the hijack ... I have an Illinois #206 Hanging Razor Strop (cowhide) that also has a linen strop attached.

What's the linen used for ?

Thanks

[fast14riot]

It will help align a rolled edge without removing it abrasively like the leather can.


-X

[knifenut1013]

The linen is to de-burr before stropping. Large burrs will damage the strop surface.

[KuRUpTD]

Much appreciated ... thanks !

[singularity35]

No, but it depends on the on the quality and user preference. You have cow hide, horse hide, and kangaroo hide all of which yield a different edge and have their own strengths and weaknesses. There are more but those are the three most common.

It's something you need to experience to understand.

I use cowhide strops and diamond pastes from 28u to 1u. I still have a couple of strops that are pristine. Do you recommend that I keep one without compound for finishing?

[fast14riot]

I always recommend having at least one plain strop. Do you know how it was tanned? Tht maes a difference too. I sometimes finish my straight razors on newspaper after the leather, seems to leave a very sharp,yet mild and comforable edge.


-Xander

[knifenut1013]

You can but I find it to work better when used after the final stone. Probably more of a preference because I like the way it enhances the edge. Using it as a final after Strops with compound have been used seems to make a smaller difference and more in the way of making it shave hair better, which would be understandable

[singularity35]

You can but I find it to work better when used after the final stone. Probably more of a preference because I like the way it enhances the edge. Using it as a final after Strops with compound have been used seems to make a smaller difference and more in the way of making it shave hair better, which would be understandable

Ok, thanks. I probably just have to try it out and see if I like it.