KSF Strop Kit

[somberbear]

you shouldnt have to ... till it stops taking the bite you want.... it sticks around depending on how much you use it... there is leather dressing and stuff and when not used often i find my strop gets kinda stiff and wants to curl.... but keeping a bit of compound on helps and regular use... use some cheaper knives to try first even the cheapies at gas stations till you get the hang of it... mainly just wait till you get a feel for it ... also look at the mouse pad method posted around here....

i like systems and all , but if you can get the feel for free hand sharpening , every thing from a rock on the ground to the bottom of a coffee cup to stropping are all in reach for you... at a fairly economical price... but if you need real metered edges .. a system is the only way to do it...

my only care is if its sharp and cuts like butter...

 

[knerd]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll definitely try stropping with my SAK and Persistence before my Delica 4 or Salt 1. I was just wondering if you had experienced any difficulty when you first started stropping beveled edges. Everyone says stropping is easy but it looks kind of difficult to me.

How long will that leather strop last? Once I apply compound to the surface, do I need to add more each time I strop?

I'd say the most difficult thing when stropping is knowing how much pressure to use, the angle that you hold the blade isn't that difficult to get down. Just lay the blade on the strop and move the spine up until you see the edge lay flat with the strop. I had a problem with dulling the blade when I started out because I'd use way too much pressure. The strop is built well so I'm sure it's going to last for a while. You don't need to apply the compound every time, once you see/feel that there's less compound you should add more.

If the edge is touching the strop, and you follow the edge throughout your sweeps using moderate to light pressure you shouldn't have any problems. Once you try stropping a few of your knives I'm sure you'll get it down.

 

[stripymccatpuss]

I use the KSF strop + compound and it is superb value for money, the amount of compound that you need to use + how much you get....a few years worth!

When applying the compound to the strop warming it with a lighter is the way to go, LIGHTLY crayon it in...the black compound is quite hard and if you are too gung ho with your crayoning action you will tear up that nice flat leather

Then with a light source infront of you hold the strop at an angle and move it about at different angles to the light , you will see lumps and bumps where the compound has not gone on evenly, either too much at certain points or too little, get you lighter and heat (with care) the areas that are proud, imediately work the compound with your finger in circular motions this will effectivly distribute the compound evenly on the strop.
I break the strop up into 2 inch squares (not literally, you know what i mean), continually moving the lighter appound the square when it is warm enough do the circular rubbie thing I mentioned above ,
If you are even sadder and there are a few bumps left, Gentley pass a piece of 1200 or 1500 paper over the area in question then blow the excess away ( sounds like Dirty Harry)

Hay presto strop perfectly loaded and ready for use, if you take your time on the prep you can achive silly sharp edges

you do get a black and green finger this way

I should say, this is what I do to prep the strop, it works for me

 

[onado2000]

How long will that leather strop last? Once I apply compound to the surface, do I need to add more each time I strop?

I use an old belt and no compound, and it works well getting my knives sharp ( but I do not really polishing the edge though). I guess that is where the compound fits in, to facilitate polishing the steel. I thought about using car polish compound, but dont want to ruin my homemade strop. Anyone try that or another material?