Is stropping really important

Kmikaz3

Kmikaz3

Joined
Aug 28, 2019
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I have a question for a while now. I have a Spyderco sharpmaker with UF rods. Do i really need to strop after every sharpening or its optional for hair whittling. If i've asked a blasphemy question, im sorry.
 
Yep, this belongs in Maintenance, tinkering, etc.

I think stropping is very important. Actually, just a stropping can help maintain a good edge by itself.

I'd highly suggest going the extra step to strop after a sharpening.
 
Stropping is important if you want to take your edge to the next level of sharpness after using your Sharpmaker. Stropping helps refine your edge by pulling the burr towards your primary edge. Sal actually mentions this in your DVD that came with the Sharpmaker.
 
Not if you just want a working edge and aren't OCD . ;)
Kmikaz3 said:
I have a question for a while now. I have a Spyderco sharpmaker with UF rods. Do i really need to strop after every sharpening or its optional for hair whittling. If i've asked a blasphemy question, im sorry.
Click to expand...
 
I can achieve a decent edge without using strops but the quality of my edges drastically improves with a small amount of stropping. A strop also maintains an edge quicker and easier than anything and removes next to zero steel. I tend to strop more than sharpen, especially with kitchen knives.

Since it's so quick and easy to do, my question is why wouldn't you do it?
 
Ah okay, because i did tried a week of strictly sharpening without a strop and another week of a combination of both. The result came out quite the same to me tbh. I mainly open boxes and letters
 
My sharpener-fu is weak, but a lot less weak if I strop. For me, it is the critical difference between a meh edge and one that is really pretty decent.
 
The sharpening method I learned in these pages and settled on is a Sharpmaker and a loaded strop. If I do my part the edges of my knives are better than ever without removing too much steel in maintenance.

My continuing desire to learn more has me looking at investing in a Wicked Edge system. One user posted here he no longer strops. Just uses lapping film. Similar result, greater precision.
 
Stropping for me has become a habit. I feel like if I don’t strop, I’m not finished.
Yes, it has made a difference to me.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Depends on the steel IMHO. High carbon steels respond to stropping better than the high carbide super steels.
Click to expand...
Well, i use a wide variety of steel. Mostly s35vn. But it can go from d2 to REX45. Yes, d2 responds really well to stropping. But s35vn and 20cv/m390 feel the same with or without for my usage.
 
Definitely strop, it may not necessarily make it sharper but in theory it should extend edge life a small bit coming off of a sharpening. Once the burr is sheared off it can be jagged at a microscopic level, so you can refine the edge down to where it's a bit more stable. A lot of times when you use a knife it will develop tiny rolled areas on the edge that can simply be unfolded and straightened by stropping, so when it comes time to touch up it's better to try to strop rather than immediately hit the sharpening stones. Once stropping stops working, then it's time to sharpen, which does remove material and uses up the blade.
 
MarkN86 said:
Definitely strop, it may not necessarily make it sharper but in theory it should extend edge life a small bit coming off of a sharpening. Once the burr is sheared off it can be jagged at a microscopic level, so you can refine the edge down to where it's a bit more stable. A lot of times when you use a knife it will develop tiny rolled areas on the edge that can simply be unfolded and straightened by stropping, so when it comes time to touch up it's better to try to strop rather than immediately hit the sharpening stones. Once stropping stops working, then it's time to sharpen, which does remove material and uses up the blade.
Click to expand...

Occasionally, my blade has some micro dings and when i tried to strop it out, i can still see them with a bright light. Then i have to resolve myself to use my sharpmaker. Or perhaps, im doing something wrong with my strop
 
One of my coworkers checked the edge of my knife with his fingers. He said it could use a sharpening. He didn't know I had used multiple stones and a strop to get a mirror polished edge. To him it seemed dull because he's used to a toothy factory edge. My point is it's about perspective. If your used to a rougher edge, don't bother with a strop. If you want to get that next level of edge, use a strop.
 
Stropping is crucial in my book. Now, I freehand sharpen and dont have a mechanical system. However, cutting my teeth on khukuris some years back meant that learning the ways of the strop was important for convex maintenance.

I strop:stone probably 10:1
 
Aside from finding it to be therapeutic, it bring the edge.to the next plateau as it were.
Some steels respond better than others. My favorite is Fallkniven Lam CoS steel. After a bunch of chores, as .long as the edge isn't chipped, bent, folded over; one go round on my billystrop and it's like a laser again!
once you have the hang of it, you can feel it when you're doing it. I don't even have to look any more. I can feel the bevel or apex depending on the knife as I pull along the leather! It kinda grows on you.
good luck with finding out what worx for you!!

James
 
My understanding of stropping is that it's for smooth, fine, polished edges, but I only have use for coarse, toothy edges (325-400 grit or less).

Does anyone strop coarse edges? I know stropping is good for removing tiny burrs and fragments, but I don't want to ruin my coarse edges by smoothing them out. There are lots of different stropping materials so are there some that are good for maintaining toothy edges without damaging them?

Thanks...
 
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