New to knife sharpening

[Brobrady]

I have been using my new Sharpmaker and have liked the results so far. Should I buy the ultra fine stones or get a strop? Any recommendations for strop and compound?

 

[Kai Winters]

I recommend you make your own strop and start with black and green compounds.
That is what I did and it is more satisfying to make your own.
I bought a nice piece of wood at Home Depot for a few bucks...it is a 3/8 inch piece of wood I cut down to 3" by 16"...12" for the strop the rest for the handle. I bought a nice piece of veg tanned leather and cut to fit the 3x12 strop wood. I sanded both sides of the wood to make sure it was flat and smooth. I cut out the handle to what fit my hand comfortable. I used some contact cement I had laying around to glue the leather to the strop wood. I used some scrap wood on each side of the leather under my clamps to glue the leather evenly.
Dried overnight...light sanding to the leather to hold the compound...sand the edges of the handle and wrap with rawhide shoe lacing tacked to the handle...heat the leather on my stove and apply the compound until I have a nice smooth surface.

I think I have a great strop that works really well.
I currently use Bark River black and green compound but I have also used compound bought at Sears to good use as well and much less money but I like the Barkie compound.

I use this in addition to very fine ceramic hones...sometimes I think I strop just for the sake of keeping my hands busy more than the knives really need it...It relaxes me when I'm watching TV.