Question about strops

C

Captain Skippy

Joined
Jun 1, 2009
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27
My wife’s grandfather was a barber during the 40’s. I have come across a three piece strop and want to use it. It has two approx 2ft long pieces of leather with a canvas strop sandwiched between them. They are still pliable and I’d like to use them but I don’t have any experience at it. Should I treat the leather or use a modern strop? To add to the coolness I have three of his straight razors, square strop about 2 inches wide and a foot or so long, and a hand powered hair trimmer. How cool is that?

Thanks.
 
My Grandfather used hand clippers to cut my hair when I was a youngster.
I still have & use one of his straight razors in my rotation along with newer ones that I bought.
Pull the leather belt tight & rub the palm of your hand back & forth with moderate pressure until you feel it
getting warm then switch hands & repeat. the oil in your skin will keep the leather supple & also raise the nap
of the leather.
The canvas belt can be used treated or untreated to heat up the blade before fine stropping on the leather.
The canvas belt will also do a good job on knives that don't need a real fine edge.
 
If it's in good condition, the strop has value as a straight razor strop until you scratch the tip of a knife on it. I would never strop a knife on a proper razor strop.
 
ToddS said:
If it's in good condition, the strop has value as a straight razor strop until you scratch the tip of a knife on it. I would never strop a knife on a proper razor strop.
Click to expand...
Exactly why I mentioned using the canvas belt for knives
 
Wowbagger said:
I've always questioned the use of strops for knives.
Click to expand...

The answer to your question is; they work, IF used as intended. A strop is a finishing tool. It's meant to be used as the very last step in the sharpening process, and then with only 8-10 strokes on a side. Used otherwise, as in multiple grit compounds on a succession of different strops, spending 10 minutes per side, is sharpening on a strop, not stropping. (This works too. It's just not stropping.)


Stitchawl
 
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