After vigorous stropping on my 16.5" Sher-made CAK, I noted that the strop stick was eventually black with metal residue and would not bite like it used to. This progressively got worse over a period of four months.
When this happened, I would simply load more compound onto the leather, thinking it would cut clean again. However, a nasty attribute was that it actually dulled the entire edge of the blade, even though the strop was held at the proper angle. This was most noticeable in the harder sweet-spot, where the strop would just slip off.
Out of frustration, I carefully reground the entire edge profile by hand using 1500-grit sandpaper the length of the blade. I then took a wire brush and got rid of the excess residue on the strop stick. The suede now is open again and the texture accepts the compound better.
I then re-stropped (spine to edge) along the entire length using about twenty strokes each side. It's back to the way it should have been.
Bottom line: Don't endlessly fiddle with the edge by stropping. When it's sharp, leave it alone. Use the least amount of compound necessary.
ON A SIDE NOTE: I've seen stories that Khuks actually get sharper with use. Several people have commented on this. I know about the carbon migration theory - that's not what I'm referring to. People comment that when the edge bites wood it actually gets sharper. Is this the case on only certain steel?
When this happened, I would simply load more compound onto the leather, thinking it would cut clean again. However, a nasty attribute was that it actually dulled the entire edge of the blade, even though the strop was held at the proper angle. This was most noticeable in the harder sweet-spot, where the strop would just slip off.
Out of frustration, I carefully reground the entire edge profile by hand using 1500-grit sandpaper the length of the blade. I then took a wire brush and got rid of the excess residue on the strop stick. The suede now is open again and the texture accepts the compound better.
I then re-stropped (spine to edge) along the entire length using about twenty strokes each side. It's back to the way it should have been.
Bottom line: Don't endlessly fiddle with the edge by stropping. When it's sharp, leave it alone. Use the least amount of compound necessary.
ON A SIDE NOTE: I've seen stories that Khuks actually get sharper with use. Several people have commented on this. I know about the carbon migration theory - that's not what I'm referring to. People comment that when the edge bites wood it actually gets sharper. Is this the case on only certain steel?
