HELP me buy a strop (please)

R

rachet197

Joined
Jul 16, 2011
Messages
145
Hey I got some some convex blades, I've heard stropping works well.
I like the stropman strops (4STROKE).
Does anyone have these?
When stroping do you need to keep a really good angle like a benchstone?
is apluslandscape(ebay account) stropman's account?
How long do strops last?

THX in advance
 
rachet197 said:
Hey I got some some convex blades, I've heard stropping works well.
Click to expand...

Stropping works VERY well... AFTER you've sharpened your blade. Stropping is for putting the final touches on an edge.

I like the stropman strops (4STROKE).
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The look very nice. But I wouldn't used them for a convex edge. You will be better served with a free-hanging strop for convex edges. Two strops will be enough; one for some green chromium oxide compound or a diamond paste, and the other bare leather. I went through a phase where I had more than two dozen bench strops going, each with a different compound. Most of those have been sitting in the closet for years now, wrapped in cling wrap. Two strops are more than enough.

When stroping do you need to keep a really good angle like a benchstone?
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By the very nature of a convex edge, an exact angle is not as important as it is on a flat beveled edge. A free-hanging strop held taut will provide all the angle you need.

How long do strops last?
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My grandfather used his all his life. When he passed away, my father took it and used it all of his life. Now I have it. It still looks new. I'll pass it along to my son, and when he's ready, he'll pass it on to his kids. Properly cared for, you strop should last several lifetimes... or more. If you are wearing out strops you are doing something very wrong...


Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
My grandfather used his all his life. When he passed away, my father took it and used it all of his life. Now I have it. It still looks new. I'll pass it along to my son, and when he's ready, he'll pass it on to his kids. Properly cared for, you strop should last several lifetimes... or more. If you are wearing out strops you are doing something very wrong...

Stitchawl
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You know, come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen a worn out strop that belonged to someone that knew how to use it. How about that...

Robert
 
rachet197 said:
Could you recommend a fairly cheap free hanging strop?( 2 less then $60)
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How about three or four of them for $28? http://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/ag524.htm Spend another $8 for a heavy rolling pin at a department store, and $3.95 for a small tin of neutral shoe cream (cream, not shoe polish or wax!!!)
You receive a sheet of 9oz veg tanned leather 12"x24". Slice into either 3" strips or 4" strips 24" long. (I think 3" work fine.)
Look at the color of the leather... remember that color... then run the leather under water, both sides, just for a second or two, getting it wet. Look at the color now. Now set it aside laying flat for an hour or two... watch the color as it dries. When the color 'starts' to come back to the original it's ready to work on. The leather will have the consistency of modeling clay! (This is called 'casing' the leather.)

Take a smooth flat board, and a heavy rolling pin and roll that leather from end to end. Press down hard on the leather and roll it, compressing it, and roll it evenly back and forth for five minutes or longer. Now let dry laying flat. After a day or two drying, rub in a few pea-sized gobs or shoe cream to revitalize the leather. Just a few PEA SIZED gobs of the stuff. You don't want to soften the leather, just feed it.

Put a grommet at the top for hanging, and if you want to get creative, sew on a handle. Optional. Without the handle it should take less than 20 minutes work to make a good strop that will last you a lifetime. 2-4 strops for under $40.


Stitchawl
 
Hi,
I just made my own strop for under $20 and it works great.
I started with piece of 1x4 pine I had laying around in my work shop. I cut it down to 17" then cut a 5"x1" handle on one end and sanded the entire piece until smooth with all edges/corners rounded.
I bought a leather belt, the longest I could find...maybe 48"...and 2" wide. I paid $12.00
I also bought a stick of green compound at Lowes for $3.00.

After cutting 2 pieces of the belt into 12" lengths I sanded them with medium grit sandpaper on both sides until I felt they were done...the shine on the front was gone and the gritty back side was smooth. I covered one side of the pine with some Liquid nails I had laying around and mounted a strip of leather...back side down, then repeated on the other side of the pine and mounted the leather strip front side down. I covered both sides with a thin strip of wood and used 6 "C" clamps to secure. After several hours they were well stuck to the piece of pine. I also wrapped the 1x5 handle with some old bicycle handlebar tape I had laying around...I keep a lot of crap I guess but it does come in handy sometimes. I used electrical tape to hold the end of the bar tape to the handle and I was done.
I loaded up the back side piece...it looked like it would work best...with compound and proceeded to strop away...I used the non compound side to give a light finish to my efforts. It works great.
 
rachet197 said:
Hey I got some some convex blades, I've heard stropping works well.

is apluslandscape(ebay account) stropman's account?
How long do strops last?

THX in advance
Click to expand...

I bought one of the apluslandscape strops on a whim, and it does the job...however I would say invest in a larger strop. It will take my smaller blades just fine, but if I try to strop anything long or thick, it takes a great deal of effort. If you want a strop to throw in your pack, buy the apluslandscape, if you want something that will ease your stropping at home invest in something with a bit more quality. You might want too look into the strops below.

http://www.knivesshipfree.com/product_info.php?cPath=637_638&products_id=6348
 
i have a strip of old belt leather glued to a paint paddle and use turtle wax stainless steel polish as the medium works well, about 8 bucks.
 
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