Do Super Steels Need To Be Stropped?

Razor

Razor

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I touch up my folders that has the super steels on the sharpmaker with diamond rods. Do they need anything else?
 
I touch up my folders that has the super steels on the sharpmaker with diamond rods. Do they need anything else?
 
No. But you may find that JUST a strop between uses might be all you need part of the time to maintain a razor edge. And require the Sharpmaker less often.
 
I always strop my edcs. Regardless of steel. It makes a big difference in the final edge. But it depends on what your using it for. My kitchen knives get 325 DMT one and done. No strop. They cut everything very well.
 
Yes, even though it may not really do any good on steels like S125V, Maxamet, S110V, I do it anyway. More out of habit than anything else. That way, if I strop every knife I sharpen, I don't have to think if it needs it or not.
 
Pretty dang coarse, your knives will last longer without being sharpened away if you Strop with diamond coumpond.

Razor said:
I touch up my folders that has the super steels on the sharpmaker with diamond rods. Do they need anything else?
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Thanks everyone for the info. I have been using a strop with diamond paste on it but did not know if the super steels needed it.
 
Razor said:
Thanks everyone for the info. I have been using a strop with diamond paste on it but did not know if the super steels needed it.
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There are other diamond compounds you can try. I'd rate the paste at the low end of the performance spectrum. I prefer spray on leather. Seems to interface with the apex better.
 
DeadboxHero said:
I prefer spray on leather. Seems to interface with the apex better.
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So then stropping on fancy steel is a go?

Good to know. I've been using CBN on kangaroo or nanocloth. But most recently started playing with some different stones, so I dispensed with the stropping because I wanted fewer variables. Next time around, I'll go back to the strop.
 
I don't think the type of steel changes whether you should strop them or not. Actually it doesn't have anything to do with it. It's all about the type of edge you want.
 
Vicv said:
I don't think the type of steel changes whether you should strop them or not. Actually it doesn't have anything to do with it. It's all about the type of edge you want.
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I agree with this. All I will add is I strop with bare leather but will add 1 micron diamond for "super" steels. I think diamond is too aggressive to strop with for most steels as it will convex the apex after more than 2 or 3 passes on the stop and leave a coarser finish than my final stone. I like paste, but make my own and the paste I use is good for the leather so it disappears fast.
 
That's why I don't like paste


Spray is king.

Diemaker said:
I agree with this. All I will add is I strop with bare leather but will add 1 micron diamond for "super" steels. I think diamond is too aggressive to strop with for most steels as it will convex the apex after more than 2 or 3 passes on the stop and leave a coarser finish than my final stone. I like paste, but make my own and the paste I use is good for the leather so it disappears fast.
Click to expand...
 
Honestly though I don't like the dubbing that stropping on leather with compound gives whether it's a spray of paste or a crayon. For a straight razor that gives a great Edge exactly the type you want. For a knife I don't care for it at all and if I do strap-on leather it will be one or two strokes per side. Generally I try to do the work on the stones but I do use three micron diamond paste on balsa or MDF occasionally as it gives a good solid backing but the nice soft cutting action of a abrasive that is on a non-fixed substrate
 
Stropping is necessary imo to remove the wire that always is there after the stones/plates etc. And I never stropped a knife that didn't benefit. When I was learning to strop I used to do a hundred laps on balsa checking the edge every 10 to make sure I didn't fudge it. I don't find the rounding effect on balsa. At least not for my typical use. Edit: I use 1 micron cbn on balsa. I do have a 3.5 micron on balsa and a .25 on leather on balsa. But the cbn on balsa is my ticket.
 
Agreed balsa is fine. I disagree that you need stropping to remove a burr or wire edge
and honestly not to sound high-and-mighty but if you're noticing a huge improvement after stropping you're missing something on the stones imo.
 
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