Help Me build a strop

Bladegunner

Bladegunner

Joined
Jul 28, 2016
Messages
595
Got the 1 micron diamond spray ordered. What is the best backing MDF, Balsa Wood, hardwood? What is the best material for the strop? Leather if so which side out smooth or rough? Do you need to condition the leather to accept the spray? Denim, cardboard, Paper? Does Polish work got some of that as well? Steels to be stropped will be SV35N, S90V and N690. I know a lot of this is personnel preference but tell me what has given you the best results. Any excellent video's you would like to share would be appreciated. Any tips or time savers would help.

FYI, Been stropping on a Guided work sharp with the green compound.
 
I used 2x4, but any wood works fine and veg-tanned, 9-10 ounce steer hide. Put a few pieces of cloth, or rubber on the bottom to keep from sliding on surfaces. Use Gorilla glue to attach the leather, and base pads. Leather should be smooth side out. (Glue the rough side to the wood). Don't have to do anything to the leather.
 
I like balsa really well. Hobby lobby sells it in 12x3x3 pieces. I cut it up into 8 pieces that are 6x1.5x1.5 now I have a nice small strop for every compound/spray I could ever want.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
 
I go cheap and easy, 2 - 5 gal paint sticks glued together with contact glue. Use same glue for leathet.
 
Any kind of wood the right size should make a good backing; you can glue leather to two sides, one for the compound you decide to use, the other plain leather. Smooth side out. I use chromium oxide (green), works great.
 
I keep switching up my strops, but I don't use leather at all anymore. Especially with the convex edges/grinds I have. I like diamond compound on basswood, and on denim on the Washboard a lot. Either way, I tend to round edges on a soft backing like leather. I can get crisper (and not rounded) edges on a hard backing. Try different things, and see what works for you.
 
I like a single layer of denim on the large size paint sticks (free at the big box hardware stores) with your favorite compound applied (mine is Ryobi "H"---now discontinued but still available on the big auction site). I have beautiful custom made leather-on-wood strops, but they are more likely to round the edge and just can't compete with the humble denim-on-paint stick ones.

Andrew
 
I used hardwood lumber like poplar from the local big box store. Only about $2 per foot and comes in covenient 1x2, 1x3, 1x4 sizes.

Got thin veg-dyed leather in 8x11 sheets from Hobby Lobby which is enough to make several strops of varying sizes.

Glued the leather strips to the wood with contact cement.

Used with and without green compound and diamond paste as well as bare wood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top