Make-it-yourself stropping compound

[Daniel Moore]

I just wanted to report some great results on using Mibro Hard Metals Polishing Compound and No.7's rubbing compound (the coursest one). Just apply the chalky Mibro to a piece of cardboard evenly, use your finger to rub the No.7 on top of that, and strop away!

They're pretty mild abrasives, but that's what I was looking for as minimal edge maintenance. This will allow you to keep a shaving edge without much wear on the knife. Best of all, it's very cheap. I prefer cardboard to leather because I like to find and use a consistent angle on a semi-hard surface as opposed to the more formative leather, but if you feel more comfortable with leather, use that. Follow it up with a good denim strop and you can get a great edge!

You should be able to get both of these things at Lowe's- you'll find the Mibro with the powerbuffing stuff.

 

[rebeltf]

Thanks for the info Needle. For some reason the bulk of the people that browse this forum are too lazy to leave much comments unless the thread is yet another one about the various brands of knife sharpeners.

Admitidly *sic* I always thought stropping was overrated until I made my own and tried it and I must say it does make a difference.

 

[Sword and Shield]

I haven't had to touch one of my favorite EDCs to a stone for almost two years thanks to stropping.

 

[ubernut]

I've been using a piece of leather for a strop. Haven't put any rouge or compounds on it yet. What do and the others recomend? Thanks

 

[Maqua]

I've been using a nice piece of leftover leather as a strop. It is working much better than the old Filson belt I was using. Carboard works pretty well for me, too. I use Flexcut Gold. I want to try and harden a piece of leather with hot water and oven drying and see how that works out. But yeah, stropping been bery bery goot to me.

 

[Leatherface]

I use the ends of belts as my strops...

To save time I cut all of my blanks the same size...The "excess" is used as a strop...rough side is coated with green compound I bought from Pop's and the smooth side is left untreated

I have made several and given them away to friends and family