sharpening Strop help

S

smithd

Joined
Nov 1, 1998
Messages
354
Hello fellow Forumites!! I am considering buying a Strop for the final stage of sharpening. The rub is that I don't know much about them. Please help if possible. For example, how long is long enough? How wide is enough? What about that lubricant stuff, how does that work? What type of leather is good? Where do you look for one? I have seen them at knifecenter. I will be using it on folders and fixed from 1095 steel through CPM 440V. BTW we have 5 inches of snow here at Fort Bragg, NC and no relief in sight!!!

Respectfully,
Doug
 
Doug, (I sent the snow to you to remind the "snowbirds" that they can run from the snow in New York, but they can't hide).

I've used old belts, strips of leather loaded with rouge, etc., The best I have found and currently am using is a small strop made and distributed for straight razors. I work over my BG42, 440v, 01, and D2 with it after use on the Sharpmaker 204 with excellent results. It polishes the edge and it is hair poppin sharp. I found mine in a Remington Shaver store in a local mall. The price was about $40.00--
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Lead,follow, or get the hell out of the way!
 
Check around at auctions and flea markets for the old Barber Strops. I've picked up a few like that for $2.00 - $8.00 . They work well for a minimal investment.

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Mark - AKA Excalibur
 
Do you use any jeweller's rouge or anything on the strop, or use it dry?It is something I have thought I'd like to try, but have found little info on stropping.

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AKTI Member #A000934
"Think not that I am come to bring peace on earth:I came not to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34
 
Green jewelers rouge works very well rubbed into a strop. It polishes to mirror edge quickly and easily.Make sure you buy the kind that has a lubricant in it. If you only buy the grit it won't stick to the strop. It usually comes in a bar. Its good to experiment a little with your different knives and see how much each steel should be stropped.Some steels like ATS34 roll easily, so you wnat to ddo more work with the stones and less work with the strop on that. Tool steels like 1095 should take more stropping without rolling the edge.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
Thanks to all that replied!! There is a Canadian company that has the best quality and value. It is two sided adhered to a board. The total price is $23.50. I'll pass the info to anyone that is also interested.

Doug
 
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