Leather belt for Strop

[DirectionalDriller]

I remember as a kid going to the barber and the barber sharpening his razor on a long piece of leather. It got me thinking.

I have an old leather belt. I was wondering if I could use it to sharpen or finish sharpening my Kukes? I was also wondering what the proper technique would be?

 

[DirectionalDriller]

Well nobody is going to pipe up so here is what I have found.
I put the old belt in a vice unfinished side up and stroked my kukris along their edge on the rough side if the belt and indeed have made an edge sharp enough to cut paper. This along with the mouse pad and paper method may work for me ....for awhile. Thanks for the input.

Dan

 

[Karda]

You could use it like the barber would to strop the burr off the edge after sharpening. Same idea and same method.
C.S. Graves uses his Blue jeans.
I use the flap from a cardboard box.

 

[sergemaster]

I agree with DirectionalDriller since I've done the same with an old leather belt using the smooth side and was able to restore my Mora #2 to a razors edge. You could also pick up a few different compounds to help you while stropping also. Check out ebay, and go with a course, medium, and fine then you'll really be set!

Cheers,
Serge

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I some times use a leather belt myself. Most of the time, I just use an old piece of scrap leather that's about 8" long and 4" wide. I've rubbed a mixture of polishes into the surface and it does a very serviceable job of taking care of the edge. If I'm careful with my blades, I usually only have to break out the stone once or twice a year.