Sharpmaker UF rods or Leather strop as final step in sharpening?

1

17hmr

Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
36
Current sharpening set up is:

1. Lansky clamp + DMT aligner stones and stone holder for re-profiling
2. Sharpmaker Med and fine rods for micro bevel and touch ups.

I'd like to try and get an even sharper edge and am thinking of either getting the sharpmaker ultra fine rods or a leather strop.

Knives I use and need to sharpen most are RAT RC3 and Izula and various Spyderco flat ground folders (Sage, Tenacious, Para)

Would you choose UF rods or strop?

If the strop is the go how would this one from KSF go on standard bevel edges? : http://www.knivesshipfree.com/Bark-River-Sharpening-Kit-Double-Sided-Hone-Compound (I am lazy and like the idea of buying one ready to go with compound etc).

Thanks.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I personally use the ultra-fines then go to a strop. :p
Click to expand...

Well I guess that would save me making any decisions on what to buy!

Would that ready made strop from KSF be OK you reckon for a standard bevel edge? They market it for maintenance of convex edges but is there any difference between a strop for a convex edge and standard v-bevel?
 
I finish with the UF rods then do one pass per side on a strop. If I were going to pick just one to use I would use the rods.

17hmr said:
They market it for maintenance of convex edges but is there any difference between a strop for a convex edge and standard v-bevel?
Click to expand...

No.

You will want to buy extra compound if it doesn't come with any though.
 
The strop will work fine on any bevel, and i would go straight to the strop with black compound then green and skip the ultra-fine stones.
 
Walk down the path of sharpness don't skip.

Skipping from too coarse of a stone to sub micron compounds never works like it should. Your micro Bevel should also only be set by your finest stone and if its big enough to see then its probably too big. The KSF kit is nice but made for connvex blades, if you have stropped before then it won't be a problem but if not then it will most likely complicate things with your V bevels. making your own strop is easy, check out my "how to" thread, or there are many that sell them including some of our fourm members. Get a mounted strop, one that is not set over a soft backing.

You have to put compound on at some point so get some 1 micron diamond compound and welcome yourself to 21st century stropping.
 
I use the Ultra Fine rods on my sharpmaker with excellent results They will put that mirror edge on your blade along with the ultimate edge. I use it to sharpen my CRK, Strider, etc. and I love it.
 
Isn't the leather on that KSF strop real soft leather? If so then wouldn't it be best for convex edges because it will give some and roll over the edge a little?

So for a V grind wouldn't something else be better than that strop in particular?

I don't know and just throwing this out there to see if someone does know. Thanks!
 
I use the brown stone, white fine, white ultra fine and then use the green compound on a strop. That is how I do my stuff. This is kinda my question right now as well. Is it good to just strop everything or is better to stop on the stones?
Zach
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Isn't the leather on that KSF strop real soft leather? If so then wouldn't it be best for convex edges because it will give some and roll over the edge a little?

So for a V grind wouldn't something else be better than that strop in particular?

I don't know and just throwing this out there to see if someone does know. Thanks!
Click to expand...

No--it is very firm leather.

It works great for both traditional V grind and convex. I use it to maintain all of my knives--including the V grind ones.

:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top