Can you recommend a good strop?

P

perky416

Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
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Hi Guys,

Using the UF stones on the sharpmaker i got my EDC down to a nice sharp edge, so sharp infact that I can take tiny shavings from a piece of paper and make 1mm slices from a squishy tomato. However I want to go a step further and strop the blade.

I have never stropped before, there is plenty of information out there on how to strop however I am having a tough time finding recommendations on a good one.

Id like the strop to be able to handle a blade from 3 inches up to kukri size should I wish to do it.

Can anybody throw out some decent recommendations?

Thanks
 
CKjeep84 said:
Good piece of thick leather and some green jewlers polishing compound.
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Not this..
Leather needs to be cased, thick is not needed either. If you want to make one do a search. Otherwise, both are good suggestions...

Russ
 
I've bought some leather strops from sharpeningsupplies online and I've made my own from horsebutt leather following some good directions. I've also made some from plain basswood sanded smooth and diamond spray.
But I would recommend Knives plus strop.

It comes preloaded with I think you'll be happy with the results. I was surprised with how easy I can tell the difference.

It has made me think, oversaturation of the compound is key in making a strop work effectively if you are using a compound.
 
A 3" x 6" piece of vegetable tanned leather.
Green polishing compound.

I prefer 7/8 oz or 8/9 oz (heavier leather), cause I have tons of it but I have used 2/3 oz (lighter) as well.
My method is to select a hard wood. In most cases red oak or pecan, again cause I have a bunch. Sand the sides smooth.

I scrape the green compound into flakes then ground them up into as fine a powder as I can manage. I then use a couple drops of harness oil to make a sludge. Then I rub this into the leather. Wipe off excess and allow to dry.
 
looking back! i don't think i would ever buy a premade strop,because its really so easy to make your own,and you really don't have to be a carpenter ether!and turns out better then any thing you can buy,and no shipping,its a win win home run..try and you will thank yourself.:thumbup:
 
If you make your own you need to case the leather. Thick soft leather does not make a good strop.
Heck, for a quickly made strop denim on a piece of wood is hard to beat. Knocks off a burr quickly, and less likely to actually harm the edge
If you get off the ideal angle a bit.
I recently made a 10" by 2.75" which works well on large kitchen knives, could probably handle "kukri" size blades.
Good luck whatever you choose, stropping is one big ol' can of worms unto itself...
Russ
 
mycough said:
If you make your own you need to case the leather. Thick soft leather does not make a good strop.
Heck, for a quickly made strop denim on a piece of wood is hard to beat. Knocks off a burr quickly, and less likely to actually harm the edge
If you get off the ideal angle a bit.
I recently made a 10" by 2.75" which works well on large kitchen knives, could probably handle "kukri" size blades.
Good luck whatever you choose, stropping is one big ol' can of worms unto itself...
Russ
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I agree. Just some denim or linen stretched over a and glued with 3M spray adhesive to flat board a loaded with some quality diamond or CBN compound is going to serve most people better than anything you can buy that's pre-made.
 
Another vote for denim-on-wood. I use the larger size paint sticks which Home Depot gives away, and shorten the length a little. Next comes a single layer of old denim jeans stretched tight, glued down, and rubbed with compound---I like Ryobi "H" white, Mother's Mag, or Bark River green.

I agree with mycough and bodog---these are less likely to round the edge, in my experience, than thicker leather. In addition, they are light and easy to hold in one hand while stropping with the other. By holding the strop rather than having it lie flat on the bench, the strop has more "give", and you get a better feel from using both hands---it's easier to sense the actual edge.

Andrew
 
made my own with a piece of wood and horse butt leather. took some course sand paper on the rough side. then i heated up some compound and rubbed it into the leather.
 
HH's Washboard with denim is my personal favorite. Followed by basswood with yr choice of compound (depending on steel). High carbon and tool steels for me is Bark River black and white compound, CPM steels is Ken Schwartz CBN solution and Diamond spray. I'm in the hard (non-leather) strop is better camp, for convex edges and regular v-grinds as well.
 
Go to a hobby lobby and buy a piece of balsa and order some good green compound it works great

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cap'njake said:
Go to a hobby lobby and buy a piece of balsa and order some good green compound it works great

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I like balsa, I like the basswood they have there too. As far as chromic oxide, it will barely burnish my high carbide knives, I just don't think it has enough abrasiveNess for many modern steels.

Russ
 
mycough said:
I like balsa, I like the basswood they have there too. As far as chromic oxide, it will barely burnish my high carbide knives, I just don't think it has enough abrasiveNess for many modern steels.

Russ
Click to expand...
Could also use some cbn on it too.

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Bark River paddle strops are legit.

The compounds are great too.

Also Ken Schwartz has some very high end strops
 
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