Leather "Strops"

[IBonTOP]

who uses a leather strop to put a finishing edge on their favorite hair splitters? And where can I get one?

 

[Chang]

Get an old smooth leather belt, put a little red rouge or green chromium oxide on it, and then strop the edge on it pulling back. Flip sides every so often and go lighter and lighter until you are barely touching the edge to the strop. Don't push so hard that you are making a huge depression in the leather as you strop, because that will cause the edge to round off a little bit. Firm but don't push down too hard as you pull the edge across.

 

[Ken Cook]

even the cardboard back on a 8.5 X 11 notebook can be used as a good strop.
It's a lot CHEAPER too!

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Tráceme no sin la razón, envoltura mi no sin honor
Usual Suspect

 

[Tactical]

Go here: www.woodcraft.com
I like the BUTZ strop, it has curves and points to strop chisels, gouges and serrations. The Yellowstone compound they have works great with the BUTZ. They have other strops and compounds there as well. In my personal experience the steels with the best edge retention, ATS-55,ATS-34,CPM-440V,BG-42,VG-10,AUS-10,AUS-8, can be stropped to a razor edge.

Coarser steel do better with a rougher utility edge and maybe a pass or two just on the leather with out any compound. Just my opinion. Take care!

 

[ptpalpha]

I make them out of 9oz leather (from Tandy) epoxied to a piece of red oak (3" wide). Add a simple wooden knob to one side and put those sticky little rubber "feet" on the bottom and you're ready to go. I "load" mine with Flitz, which dries to a fine white mildly abrasive powder. I've been using mine for about 1 1/2 years and it works like a charm. It allowed me to go from shaving sharp to scary sharp.

 

[Tmac]

Try http://www.handamerican.com./ . I have the Blademaster ProCombo 10, it comes with a rough and smooth leather adhered to the block as well as an extra smooth leather, it also includes about 4 sharpening compounds. Very good craftsmanship on the block. Great people to deal with.

I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker then finish it off with some green compound on the strop and hairs just run away.

Take care,
Tom

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"A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains"
AKTI Member A001010

 

[IBonTOP]

Thanks ya'll, I yave Finally reprofiled my Stryker and it shaves with very litle resistance, but i just Know I can get it better, ( i have over 50 knives but got my first Good one after lurking in here), I LOVE the ats-34. the crkt and kershaws were my best, till I got the BM, now I guess I need to save up for a custom. or a LCC.

I am going to try the Flitz first, ( since I have some)
but anyone know a source on the old barbershop style meter long strops?

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[Esav Benyamin]

I searched on http://www.google.com for “strops” and also found these websites:

http://www.premiumknives.com/ShopSite/Shaving_Razors_and_stropes_and_Shaving_Accessories.html

http://www.fandfwoodcarving.com/strops.htm

http://www.mountainwoodcarvers.com/stones&strops.htm

 

[ptpalpha]

IBonTOP-
Use your fingers to rub the Flitz into the leather; let it dry overnight. Then rub the dried powder further into the leather. After that you hardly ever have to add more Flitz, and your edges are not only incredibly sharp, they also have a mirror polish! Too damn cool.

 

[kutch133]

I'm sure all of these listed strops are great, but if you don't want to sink the money into a strop, use the inside of an old leather belt. I get great results with mine.