Should I get a strop?

[_habit_]

I've been practicing with my fine and extra fine diamond stones on and off (mostly off ) now for a few months, and while I can get a knife decently sharp, it's hardly hair shaving sharp, and when it is it is only on one side >_<. Am I in need of a strop or more practice with the stones? I seem to do OK as I said, with 440A, but I don't get very far with VG-10. I'm actually going to send in the VG-10 for sharpening, as I think it's a bit too far gone for my level of sharpening ability... got another one I can work at a little, it's going to be sent in too anyway.

Thanks

 

[Lucky Bob]

If it only shaves on one side, it's a burr. Others will be in here to tell you how to best get rid of it, and I haven't gotten that down completely, so I won't even bother adding my -$.02.

 

[StretchNM]

Hey Habit,
As long as you're getting a nice, crisp edge (with or without a burr), then you're ready for a strop. I think you can keep working that edge with light strokes and increasing the angle ever-so-slightly to get rid of the burr, but a strop will help with that and also polish the edge.

You can buy one or make one. I use a 3"x3/4"x11" piece of mahogany with 7-8oz leather glued to both sides - one side smooth leather, the other side rough. Both are coated with green chromium oxide (green rouge or compound). You can find leather at a craft store, upholsterer's shop, or Tandy or other leather retailers online.

I really didn;t start seeing *sharpness* until I started stropping.

 

[Peregrin]

One thing I've learned about stropping: If the blade is not already sharp a strop really won't make it sharper. If the blade is sharp a strop will take it to new levels of sharpness.

As posted by Lucky Bob it sounds like you have a burr on the edge. Depending on the steel and the honing compound you use (and how much time and patience you have), you may be able to remove the burr by stropping. It's much faster to remove by stone though. Use light strokes as StretchNM suggests.

To feel the burr: take your fingernail and very, very carefully drag it across the edge, from top (spine) to bottom (edge). If there is a burr your nail should snag right at the edge, on one side. Sometimes, depending on the steel etc, it is almost imperceptible. You can also, sometimes, feel the burr with a toothpick, the corner of a piece of paper etc. You get the idea.