Sharpening/Strop Help

[Jas79]

I am about to get my first convex knife, and was wondering is the sandpaper,and mouse pad the only way to sharpen it? Also I ordered some Hand American leather to make a strop, and some 1micron diamond spray.
Do I have to use a mouse pad under the strop for the convex blades?

One more question and I stop for a while.(maybe)
After I sharpen the knife. Do I go to the green compound first, and then the diamond spray?
Ok I thought of one more
Can I use just the strop and either the compound or the spray to sharpen?

thanks for any help
Jeremy

 

[hardheart]

is the sandpaper,and mouse pad the only way to sharpen it?

No, but it is probably the easiest to start with

Do I have to use a mouse pad under the strop for the convex blades?

No, the leather has enough give on its own

After I sharpen the knife. Do I go to the green compound first, and then the diamond spray?

Depends on the compound. The good stuff is graded 0.5 micron, so you would use it after 1 micron diamond.

Can I use just the strop and either the compound or the spray to sharpen?

Yes, but they remove very little metal. You can touch up edges when they lose that initial keenness.

 

[Ben Dover]

I don't use a mousepad at all. I put the sandpaper *(if it's needed) on leather. :thumbup:

The easiest and best way to maintain a convex, IMHO, is to never let it get so dull that you need sandpaper.

 

[Jas79]

Thanks alot for all the help hardheart, and Ben Dover

is it ok to finish with the diamond spray, or should I use both the diamond and the green

 

[hardheart]

either or