How can stropping work?

[shecky]

Stropping a burr out (more like re-aligning a burr) seems to be a common reason for stropping. I find that explanation flawed. The best explanation seems to be for edge polishing.

Stopping is applicable to convex edges the same way it's applicable to any other. Actual sharpening convex edges is also often done in a way very much like stropping. It's mostly a difference in the coarseness of the abrasive used.

 

[Ben Dover]

For a really sharp edge, after the leather and compound, I strop the blade on my jeans. I don't know how it works it just does.

And in the final analysis, that is what really matters, isn't it?

 

[Roger999]

For a really sharp edge, after the leather and compound, I strop the blade on my jeans. I don't know how it works it just does.

Try stropping on your jeans, then switching to leather and green rogue, you'll get an amazing edge.

A strop is supposed to re allign the edge in straight razors which have very soft steel, when you get to harder steels, you are polishing the edge, but with compounds, it removes very minor amounts of steel.

 

[Beltfed45]

Since were all talking about what stropping does, does anyone have any VERY close-up pics of a blade stropped and one non-stropped? Just thought it would be interesting to see.

 

[hardheart]

http://www.mse.iastate.edu/fileadmin/www.mse.iastate.edu/static/files/verhoeven/KnifeShExps.pdf

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Straight razors are generally harder than production pocket knives.

 

[SPXTrader]

Day-um hardheart, that's a good (and very long) read!

 

[matt321]

Primitive compared to the Verhoven paper linked above, but this old magazine article had some very good photos and info on stropping for razors.

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/06/02/wonder-photos-reveal-unsuspected-facts-about-razor-blades-and-shaving/

 

[kelbro]

Since were all talking about what stropping does, does anyone have any VERY close-up pics of a blade stropped and one non-stropped? Just thought it would be interesting to see.

I couldn't get my 200x scope pix to show up very well but the best way to describe it would be that the strop buffs the edge. It smooths/blurs/smudges the lines that the hone puts into the steel.

 

[Greg]

The simple answer is that anything will work--given enough repetitions. Even water will wear down granite rock after hundreds of years!
It just depends on how fast you want the results, and how smooth/polished you want the edge.
The harder the abrasive the faster the work. The larger the abrasive particles the faster the work and the coarser the edge. Pick your abrasive and the grade according to the results you want.
Greg

 

[ksskss]

Leather does have some natural abrasives in it and this, without any compounds does refine an edge. Now if you wish to refine an edge without adding any 'convexity' to it beyond the variance in how you hold it, try stropping on a piece of paper over a flat surface. Of course if you want convexity, stropping on your pants leg of your blue jeans works too. There's LOTS of things that will put an edge on a knife.

---
Ken