Homemade Strop!

[BushcraftBrainTrust]

With the black compound (US version, Hello) it should only take 10-20 strops per side to get your knife back to hair shaving sharp after a day or 2 of use. I sometimes bring a field strop loaded with black compound on trips. One of the keys to easy sharpening of a convex edge is not to let it get too dull. If you use a knife hard for a day and strop it for less than a minute, you are back to razor sharp. If you go 2 weeks of hard use than you might need to go back to sand paper and lots of time. A 4 sided strop bat is only $30-40 and a field strop is around $15. I've also resharpened knives on MRE boxes and cardboard.

I'm not an expert, but I enjoy hand sharpening my knives. PM me with any questions and I will try to help.

[youtube]3WuY4Str02o[/youtube]

 

[Mr. Night]

thats a great video Brian,, thanks

 

[Filip.J]

Thanks for the vid, Brian - I've already seen it before, but it never hurts to remind the right process :thumbup:
I tried to sharpen the Neckers yesterday, it seems the white compound works much better than the green. The knives are significantly sharper, cut paper like razor, but don't shave hair. I need to practise, can't be another reason for it...

 

[BushcraftBrainTrust]

Thanks for the vid, Brian - I've already seen it before, but it never hurts to remind the right process :thumbup:
I tried to sharpen the Neckers yesterday, it seems the white compound works much better than the green. The knives are significantly sharper, cut paper like razor, but don't shave hair. I need to practise, can't be another reason for it...

Cool. Practice is fun.:thumbup:


I'm curious what the grit is on the white. What type of paper is it cleanly cutting (typing, receipt, thin coupon/catalog)? If the white (i've never used) is too aggressive you may want to spend a little time with the green compound to take some of the tooth out of the blade.

 

[Filip.J]

Sticky note. It can cut a spiral out of it.
I wonder how dull could the Necker get by cutting some hard wood branches and plastic + aluminum pill plate?

 

[trukreltrog]

Thanks for the vid, Brian - I've already seen it before, but it never hurts to remind the right process :thumbup:
I tried to sharpen the Neckers yesterday, it seems the white compound works much better than the green. The knives are significantly sharper, cut paper like razor, but don't shave hair. I need to practise, can't be another reason for it...

Hmmmm, might have to try some white compound.

Sticky note. It can cut a spiral out of it.
I wonder how dull could the Necker get by cutting some hard wood branches and plastic + aluminum pill plate?

I cut a pinto with mine, didn't hurt it much.

 

[BushcraftBrainTrust]

Sticky note. It can cut a spiral out of it.
I wonder how dull could the Necker get by cutting some hard wood branches and plastic + aluminum pill plate?

I think you have more to worry about your arm hair than your sharpening skills.



Sounds like you are doing a great job. Next time you are out in the woods start making tent pegs and a few feather sticks with your necker. It is a good test of the edge.


Make some camp tong too. Saved my brother-in-laws family's dinner with this Pepperized Horton. Where is he BTW?

 

[Filip.J]

I was cutting a 0.5" branch for the parrot to sit on. Gotta try some more.
I have very tough face hair, but didn't think my arm hair was cutproof, too :grumpy:
Every other edge I have that cuts paper is quite bity, this is not - it's unbelievably user friendly, I'm not used to this

 

[RedbeAR15]

I was cutting a 0.5" branch for the parrot to sit on. Gotta try some more.
I have very tough face hair, but didn't think my arm hair was cutproof, too :grumpy:
Every other edge I have that cuts paper is quite bity, this is not - it's unbelievably user friendly, I'm not used to this

How's that edge work on the bird?