So about to buy my "first" knife. I say "first" as this will be the first one to arrive as I have one in S35VN on order that I've been waiting on a while and will probably be waiting a few months more yet.
I live in Florida so I'll probably be going 440C or similar on my everyday beater knife, don't know yet. Anyways I'm going to need a good strop and sharpening system.
I don't have much as far as specialty stores where I live; nothing knife specific that I can find. I do however have a couple fabric stores and even a Tandy Leather relatively close by so I was thinking of perhaps going to Tandy and getting some scraps to make a strop or two. I've read vegetable tanned is best as chemical tanned strips the silica out.
I've also read good things about Balsa but I have even less of an idea where to start.
So if I go the scrap route, what should I look for in the leather as far as qualities go? If I instead go a pre-made route are there any that come more highly recommended as far as quality goes? I'd like something inexpensive but good. I have Amazon Prime for free shipping, though am not opposed to getting from somewhere else if the price is right.
As far as the actual sharpening goes inexpensive is also the word here. Need the best bang for my buck so a higher end system like KME, ETC. is out I don't see being able to justify a couple hundred on a sharpener (though I know it'll eventually pay for itself).
I live in Florida so I'll probably be going 440C or similar on my everyday beater knife, don't know yet. Anyways I'm going to need a good strop and sharpening system.
I don't have much as far as specialty stores where I live; nothing knife specific that I can find. I do however have a couple fabric stores and even a Tandy Leather relatively close by so I was thinking of perhaps going to Tandy and getting some scraps to make a strop or two. I've read vegetable tanned is best as chemical tanned strips the silica out.
I've also read good things about Balsa but I have even less of an idea where to start.
So if I go the scrap route, what should I look for in the leather as far as qualities go? If I instead go a pre-made route are there any that come more highly recommended as far as quality goes? I'd like something inexpensive but good. I have Amazon Prime for free shipping, though am not opposed to getting from somewhere else if the price is right.
As far as the actual sharpening goes inexpensive is also the word here. Need the best bang for my buck so a higher end system like KME, ETC. is out I don't see being able to justify a couple hundred on a sharpener (though I know it'll eventually pay for itself).
