Flexxx field strop question

TRog

TRog

Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
692
Hi fellows

So back in the fall I saw in one of Bill's FS thread that he was promoting a small strop made by Flexxx and since I'd been looking for a small strop to throw in my backpack this fit the bill nicely so I pm'd Bill about the info so I could buy one. I've never used a strop before and asked Bill if he knew where any good stroping video's were so I could learn how to strop(thanks for those links again Bill). He sent me a link with several different videos. But like anything else everyone does it differently. I edc a SY SS4 that I had convexed by Nate at knifemods(norcalblacktail) and it was hairpoping sharp when I got it back. Used it alot and then got the strop and watched the videos and started stroping. I've got it sharp, slices paper ok, but can't get it hair poping sharp. Can anyone help a struggling stroper out? Granted I use the search button when I'm looking for info, it's my friend, but hasn't helped me get that hair poping effect I'm looking for. Thanks

-Tony
 
Don't use a lot of pressure and watch your angle. I think the biggest trouble people have with a strop, though is that they apply downward pressure, when all you need is the weight of the blade and the polishing compound to do all of the work.
 
Exactly right , MRN8, Aswell u will glaze over the compound,take the top spine of the knife and drag it back an forth over the leather to make it fluffy again,Black side first then green side when stropping,Aswell when you get the knife back to the hair popping sharp you want touch it up after use it will stay that way and you wont have to work so hard to get that cutting edge back on the knife,whats 5 mins of your time?
 
Good info guys on the pressure(I felt like it didn't take much) but I guess in my first post I forgot to add is the motion(in which direction)??? A barber strops a straight razor back and forth. So what about a knife like a hunter? I've seen videos where people start at the tip and rotate the edge around to the ricasso and some people do just the opposite and draw the knife back to them. Or should I be holding the knife perpendicular to the strop and just go back and forth like a barber would do with a straight razor? Thanks guys
 
[video=youtube;rGYSp8Cn3_o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGYSp8Cn3_o[/video]

On my bench strop, I like to do it similar to this. Make sure you hand on the tip is just guiding and keeping a consistent angle and not pressing down too much.

On the Flexx strop (or any small handheld one), I usually go tip to heel, but be careful not to poke the tip into your leather. I think it doesn't really matter which direction, as long as you are sliding away from the cutting edge. I really got comfortable doing it while sitting and watching TV. Just strop away while watching a show / movie and you can get hair-popping sharp or mirror shine by the time it's all done.

If when you clean the glazed compound off your strop you find you need to apply more compound, heat the leather and the compound a little with a blow drier and the leather will soak up that stuff like mad.
 
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