Just made my first strop

R

Rifter

Joined
Dec 15, 2001
Messages
774
Hello, I have been stropping for a long time, usualy on cardboard cause im cheap and it works or a old leather belt. Then i finally decided to make a real strop, I ordered some leather strips from lee valley tools. I then Picked up a piece of wood from work, about 10" long and 2" wide and 3/4" thik and glued the one piece of letaher to one side and another piece on the other, one with the smooth side up and one with the rough side up. Then worked the wood into a handle at one end(with my buck 110 cause im way to cheap to buy power tools :)) and 30 min later(minus glue cure time) i have a fully functional strop that actually looks ok. This is a cheap project that will give you something solid to strop with and cost next to nothing. And the best part is you made it with your own 2 hands. I then tested it on my 110 and got it so darn sharp i cut myself a little feeling the edge, i have never been able to get it that sharp stropping on cardboard. BTW i am using the Green Veritas honing compound on the leather. Will post pics after my Tung oil shows up and i give it a few coats. looks a little rough right now with no oil on the wood.
 
ive made a few portable strops for myself as well, but as far as im concerned my strop from www.handamerican.com is worth every damn penny i paid for it! and their cromium oxide gel is THE BEST!
 
Rifter, thanks for the great idea!!
Did you get the honing compound from Lee Valley as well?

Veritas, did you know there's a whole sh!tload of woodworking type stuff named after you as well?:cool:
 
yup i got the compund from leevalley as well, was like $10 for a stick big enough to last you a lifetime.
 
Rifter, can you find a web addy of the place that sells those 8000 grit compounds??

You got good timing..they should be on their way to you this week hopefully, or next week :)
 
Originally posted by Rifter
Hello, I have been stropping for a long time, usualy on cardboard cause im cheap and it works or a old leather belt. Then i finally decided to make a real strop... i am using the Green Veritas honing compound on the leather.
Click to expand...

Now THAT'S a contribution to the forum! Good thread! Thanks a bunch. I've often thought of making my own strop. Like you said, "And the best part is you made it with your own 2 hands."

A few questions if you don't mind for my own curiosity and to richen the thread:

1. Is Lee Valley Tools a local company for you or do they have a website to order from. If so, please post the site.

2. Any particular leather?

3. What kind of glue did you use?

4. What's Green Veritas and where'd you get it?

5. Did you use the Green Veritas on both the smooth and rough of the leather?

I have a strop I purchased from Knife Center and I've had GREAT luck using the sticks of Craftsman compound on my strop. (Red on smooth, white on rough.)
 
TAZ:


the 8000 grit stuff i have i got at a local night market and it is not on again till next year, if i see it then i will grab some for you. BUT the veritas stuff seems to be better and i would use it unless you need the really high grit finish on like a kitchen knife, like what i use the 8000 grit stuff for.

fulloflead:

1. Lee valley does have a local store however i ordered through there website anyways having no transportation to go to there store. And they do ship to the US. Website is http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp

2. They sell a strop leather pack that has one 5"X4" pad and 5 1.5"X4" strips and i bought that as im going to make some for my friends too.

3. I used a Epoxy(3. 250ml 5-Cure Epoxy (56Z7700)) that I also bought from lee valley tools.


4. Green Veritas is the stropping compund that lee valley reccomended for there leather and it works very well. Got it from them as well.

5. Yes

Hope that helps, if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
 
Rifter and Taz,

Can you guys tell me more about this 8000 grit stuff? As far as I know, the Veritas compound is something like half micron size anyways, which is finer than an 8000 grit waterstone. If I wanted something finer than the veritas stuff, I think I'd be getting diamond paste. But I don't need an edge THAT fine! Besides, my fiancee gets the diamonds, not me :)

Rifter, great job making a strop! I too makde a strop. I traded a forumite some buffing compound for some leather. 5 minutes of cutting, contact cememting and trimming and BAM! Strop! :)
 
I picked up some 8000 grit polishing compound at a asian night market, Said it was for polishing jewlery or something but i used it for knives. The veritas is more aggressive i find and finishes faster to a finer finish but doesnt seem to shine as much as the 8000 grit stuff. I would try to give more info the 8000 grit stuff but there is no brand name on the can, onthing on the can is a sticker that says 8000 Grit
Polishing Compound For
Jewlery, Metals, Etc.
Made in China

Seemed like someone bought a crapload of it and Broke it down and sold it like that to make some cash, Didnt matter to me i needed something so i grabbed a can. Anyways i Prefer the Veritas seems to work better for me overall.
 
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