Do Anyone Else Do To Relax/Stress Relieve?

[afishhunter]

Does anyone else Dry Strop (no polishing compound/paste, water, etc.; just a plain dry leather or canvas strop) the blade(s) on their current carry knife*** or knives***** to relieve stress and/or relax?
***How can you stand to carry just one?
*****and/or broadheads if you're an archery hunter or huntress.

 

[Lander boy Matt]

I will occasionally use my wallet or belt to strop/ fidget with my knives, but usually it's just evenings on the couch using them as worry stones watching tv.
Not sure what I'd fidget with without a slipjoint now that i think of it..

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I became aware of a behavioral pattern of mine some time back. When I'd get sort of anxious or uneasy about something, I'd instinctively reach for one of my knives and a stone. Didn't really matter if the knife actually needed sharpening or not - I'd just pick them up and start honing. Part of it, as my rational mind told me, was about keeping my hands trained to the process. But after a point, I realized it was just as much about giving me something to focus on, to take my thoughts away from whatever bothers me at times. In that respect, it really does relax me. And the bonus is, when I'm in that frame of mind, I notice my additional focus on that task pays off in the quality of my sharpening as well. Some of the edges I've been most proud of have been the result of my 'stress relief' sessions with the gear.

Prior to my learning freehand sharpening on the stones, I did often spend a lot of time with one of my strop blocks and a blade, which I did find relaxing as well. Oftentimes, it'd be just after a good meal and with a glass of wine by my side. Great way to wind down in the evening, while watching TV in an easy chair.

 

[afishhunter]

Good to know I ain't "strange" (and/or "weird") and the only one.

 

[Wild Willie]

I too find putting steel to stone or strop therapeutic. I also use some of my other daily carry tools as worry stones if the situation doesn't warrant knife fidgeting.

 

[the rat]

I often find my self using my knives for worry stones. I let it slide through my fingers then grab it at the bolster flip it over and repeat and repeat.

 

[Will Power]

He who has knives can never be stressed!

No so unfortunately Fear of Flippers, Fear of Missing Out Fear of Price Collapse, Fear of burglars, Fear the Postman never comes.... Fear of Social Media, Fear of tomorrow...and the very real Fear of Fear

Stropping by definition, focuses the mind. It is both soothing and a welcome distraction from nonsense by contemplating a rewarding task rather than the self.

 

[Ice Tigre]

Nope, too much thought is needed to strop correctly and not round off an edge(in my experience anyway) to ever be relaxing... I avoid that (useless IMO)practice completely.

Did used to enjoy and be relaxed by sharpening with stones. But not as a thing to do for the purpose of relaxing.. just relaxing when I had to do it. I gave up bothering to waste the time doing it years ago when I found I got the same edge from other simpler methods...

That kinda relaxing for me is go plane a board flat with a hand plane, or split a cord of wood by hand.

Different strokes as they say.

I do tend to fondle a knife in my pocket worry stone style though.

 

[AlexDam]

I started with the meditation 3 times a week.

 

[JM2]

I find sharpening relaxing. I occasionally will set down and just give everything a few licks.

I also really like chopping wood. And I like piddling with restoring old tools. I have a plane I’m working on, and a few fishing reels. I get a lot of relaxation from the reloading room too. Or cleaning my gun.

 

[mrknife]

I will occasionally use my wallet or belt to strop/ fidget with my knives, but usually it's just evenings on the couch using them as worry stones watching tv.
Not sure what I'd fidget with without a slipjoint now that i think of it..

yup, its like a fidget spinner for me some times. just to maintain dexterity while i watch tv. 15 spears spin so well. actually almost any derivative of the line. for me its been that 86 mod of late which has been my daily

 

[abcdef]

I do it almost all the time when watching tube.

 

[Getting older]

I find using a draw knife very relaxing ,Whittling,carving,also playing with a spokeshave is fun and rewarding

 

[5K Qs]

My knife sharpening skills are still so minimal that sharpening or stropping CAUSES stress for me, rather than relieving stress!

- GT

 

[I'mSoSharp]

Yes, I also like to freehand sharpen as a way to focus on one thing only & sometimes use it as a way of winding down.
Another thing I enjoy is straight razor shaving, now that is a fantastic way of "focusing"

 

[mrknife]

My knife sharpening skills are still so minimal that sharpening or stropping CAUSES stress for me, rather than relieving stress!

- GT

agreed and right there with ya professor. After seeing how how bad my sharpening skills were on the 86 mod, i am happy to pay a professional. Mind you this was an unsharpened blade so my lansky crocks just made a mess. This knife was going in the pocket anyway.

 

[JohnDF]

My knife sharpening skills are still so minimal that sharpening or stropping CAUSES stress for me

Me too... the only way I sharpen knives any more is with a guided rod system.... sharpening for dummies.

 

[chevyrulez1]

I find sharpening very relaxing, kind of a self soothing activity for me as well. I find myself looking for blades to sharpen, when I get them all sharp then I have to buy new ones

 

[Centermass]

I sharpen as therapy all the time. Even stuff that is probably still sharp.

 

[Hengelo_77]

Try making your own knife and hand sand it. Slowly make dull, gray steel shiny by moving over it and over it with ever finer and finer sandpaper. Go on, one grit finer, just because you can.
Hand sanding is zen