Leather strop

B

BillL

Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
239
Hi,

I bought a few pieces of scrap leather to make a strop. While I was selecting from a heap of scrap leather, the only ones I found and bought were dyed white. Can I use the white smooth side to strop or do I have to use the rough undyed side. Does the dye make any difference to the use of the leather as a strop?

Thanks
 
You can use both. I took a piece of scrap leather from the shoe store and glued it onto a wooden paint stirrer with the rough side of the leather on one side and the smooth on the other. It works great. I use the smooth side on the plain edge knives and the rough side of the leather for the serrated edges. I bought some of that green stropping/honing goo to rub into the leather. It really makes for a great edge.
 
For a few bucks for a cheap 1 inch belt grinder from Harbor Freight. Along with a 1 inch leather belt and a fine rouge from Jantz supply you have a great stropping system. It sure saves on the elbow. Never tried the rough side for serrated blades though.

Jim
 
You can use both. The rough side for working on a blade that needs a little more work (a little duller), and the smooth side for final sharpening, polishing an edge.
 
A Regular old leather waist belt nailed to a 2X4 works well, add a little buffing compound and you've got it made
 
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