How to maintain convex edge, bravo-1 knife

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Apr 13, 2008
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as most of you may know, ive been choosing on all the essential items for my new soon to be in the hands of, blaze orange g-10 bark river knife.
i was told to use a strap of leather, but im more curious as to exactly what ill need. links are always appreciated.
 
A strop consisting of a piece of thin leather stretched tightly over a block of wood (rather than glued) and loaded with stropping compound works best for me. A few passes after each use keeps them razor sharp, plus so far it's the only method that I've been able to make a hair whittling edge with.
 
I made my strop for under $1 (not including compound). Dug through the scrap bin at the leather store, got a whole bag of leather for a couple of bucks, and used a piece of 2x4 for the base. Cut off the ends of the 2x4, then screw them back on to clamp the leather down when it's stretched out.

I tried using a thick piece of leather just glued down, but I wasnt finding success with that, seemed like I was just dulling my knives, but some people like them and use them effectively.
 
I have a leather strop I bought from Lee Valley Tools that works pretty good, mounted on a piece of wood. Rather than heat up my strop before applying the green CrO2 compound, I used mineral oil. That will dissolve the compound and allow you to work it evenly into the strop. When I first got it, I just rubbed the stick on the strop like a crayon, and that didn't work so well. Left bumps of abrasive compound on the surface of the strop. So, heat up your strop or use mineral oil to get an even coating of the abrasive. I haven't managed hair popping sharp with it yet, but I've gotten shaving sharp without too much trouble.
 
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