Strop Advice

S

side_thrust

Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
4
Can a thick and wide piece of leather (say from a small leather manufacturer) be made into a good strop with the right upper retention system?

What are some requirements for a good strop? Oiling/Conditioning? Grit? Angles and technigue?

I have gleaned some info from other threads, but I can't find a comprehensive overview.
 
You can simply use a piece of corrugated cardboard, or a piece of leather. All you want to do is smooth off any burrs left from your stones.
Bill
 
A good piece of split cowhide is all you need. I got one of the 5-gallon paint stir sticks from a paint store to mount it to. It's about 14" long, and 1 1/2" wide. I put one side "smooth side out" and the other side "rough side out". That way I can use each for different things. I put white jeweler's rouge on the rough side, and use the smooth side without anything.

Just use light pressure (about 5 pounds) as you draw the edge across the leather. Keep the angle low (very close to your sharpening angle). Do about 5 strokes per side (alternating sides with each stroke). And, don't roll the edge when you come to the end of the stroke. Lots of folks do everything perfect until the get to the end of the stroke and then left the blade (turning the angle) while the edge is still in contact with the leather. If you do this, you'll completely undo all that you have just done. Instead, keep the angle constant all the way to the end, then stop, and lift the edge straight up off of the leather.
 
Thanks for the advice. I really didn't want to but a $40 strop.

I'll be montoring this board for future posts.

Cheers
 
a good peice of cowhide works well. You can either mount it on a piece of wood, or use tension. Ive made many and I have made both, but find that the knid that are tensioned work better. I use a 1 3/4" piece of leather by about 13-14"s long. I use a piece of lighter cowhide, about 4-6 ounce leather, folded over the end and hand sewn, leaving a hole that I attach rawhide strings to ( I do this with the leather wetted). I allow it to dry for a couple days. I tie one end to a door knob, or other stationary surface, and the other I hold the tension with one hand and strop with the other.

Dovo, and others make a good basis strop paste to condition the strop with. You can get it at the knifecenter.com

I also used carboard, a belt, and a pant leg to strop a blade on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top