2 quick strop questions

tueller

tueller

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Mar 16, 2012
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So I am building a few strops. One for black compound, one for green compound and one plain leather to finish with.

1. Should I glue the leather rough, unfinished side down and use the smooth side for stropping or do I have it backwards?

2. How important is it to get all the mineral oil cleaned off my knives before stropping? If left on the knife will the mineral oil eventually ruin the strop? Leather? Or compound?

Thanks
 
1. Start with the smooth side, for now. Depending on the individual piece of leather, the rough (sueded) side can work also, but that's much more variable, from excellent to horrible.

2. Clean the blade anyway, after using the stones. At least wipe it down with a clean, dry rag. Not so much for the mineral oil, but other coarser grit from the stone can contaminate your strop. Any dirty mineral oil on the blade might be carrying and transferring that coarse grit. The mineral oil, by itself, won't harm the leather. Many mix their compounds with mineral oil anyway, to simplify application to the strop.


David
 
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If building your own, smooth side up. Case the leather if you can. For green and black compounds, I actually think they benefit from being worked in with oil like they do at KnivesPlus. I use olive oil. Mineral oil is fine. One loading of compound can then be "refreshed" numerous times by rubbing it with a few drops of oil. I wouldn't strop a blade coated in oil. I would clean it first.
 
Thx. How do you recommend mixing the compound in the leather with oil. My compound is in a cube chalk like form. Should I just apply the compound then mix the oil in wih a rag or something?
 
tueller said:
Thx. How do you recommend mixing the compound in the leather with oil. My compound is in a cube chalk like form. Should I just apply the compound then mix the oil in wih a rag or something?
Click to expand...

With that compound, probably the easiest way is to moisten the end of the compound with some mineral oil, then rub or draw onto the leather with it. You might test this method on paper or cardboard, before attempting it on the leather. Some compounds may loosen up more easily than others, this way. If the compound is harder/chunkier/waxier, it might take some additional 'grinding' of the compound into some mineral oil to make it more workable.

Edit:
It may even be worth trying it dry, minus the mineral oil. If the compound will draw onto the surface without leaving too many coarse lumps or chunks, a simple cross-hatch pattern across the face of the leather can get you started. After doing that, a paper towel moistened with WD-40 can be rubbed over it to thin and more evenly distribute the compound. I've previously done that with some of my strops, and it can work fairly well.


David
 
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I've have yet to see this type of information about loading a strop come up. I've always done trial and error, emphasis on the error part. I think i will keep an eye on this one. Thanks guys!
 
tueller said:
Thx. How do you recommend mixing the compound in the leather with oil. My compound is in a cube chalk like form. Should I just apply the compound then mix the oil in wih a rag or something?
Click to expand...


First dress the strop if it's really dry. If it's okay, then warm the compound if it's the brick or crayon type with a lighter to soften it. Work quickly because it will cool and harden. Rub it vigourously on the strop and repeat until strop is covered. Then VERY sparingly put a drop of oil on your fingertip and rub the compound in. Don't put oil directly on the compound or strop. Reapply a drop of oil to your fingertip as needed until you've worked the whole strop. Should only take several drops for the whole strop.

When your strop eventually loads up and glazes and stops working as effectively, carefully wet your fingertip with the oil again and work it all over the surface of the strop again in a rubbing motion. This will refresh the strop by disrupting the loaded metal layer and working fresh compound to the surface.
 
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Fervens I agree 100%. Obsessed with edges and magnaminious_g, really a big help. Thx. Much appreciated.
 
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