Strop Got the Hairs to Pop

J

Josh Feltman

Joined
Feb 12, 2001
Messages
4,501
Well, I finally made myself a strop-- glued a piece of leather about 2x11" to the top of a piece of 2x4 with some epoxy, rough side up. I charged the strop with jeweler's rouge, and then stropped my khukuris using Yvsa's suggestions for stropping. The strop definitely adds that extra bit of sharp to a blade. I also started using a ceramic rod in a similar manner to a chakmah after sharpening with sandpaper on a mouse pad. Between the ceramic rod and the strop, my khukuris are sharper than I have been able to get them before. If you don't have a strop, I would strongly recommend making or buying one--you'll be glad you did.
--Josh
 
Glad to hear you're getting a good handle on it Josh. Just remember, an ounce of respect is cheaper than a box of band aids.

Sarge
 
I thought this was a new Dr.Seuss book for Khuk Addicts when I read the thread title;) :D

Nice going Josh!! I really have to get off my arse and try this:o
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman
Well, I finally made myself a strop-- glued a piece of leather about 2x11" to the top of a piece of 2x4 with some epoxy, rough side up.
I charged the strop with jeweler's rouge, and then stropped my khukuris using Yvsa's suggestions for stropping.

The strop definitely adds that extra bit of sharp to a blade.

If you don't have a strop, I would strongly recommend making or buying one--you'll be glad you did.
--Josh
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T'waren't hard was it Josh?;)

Actually I think the strops work better with the smooth side up, but to each his own.;)

If Josh can do it so can the rest of y'all!!!!:rolleyes: :p :rolleyes: :p :p ;)
 
I'm with you Bruise, sharp knives are overrated. Takes a real master to bludgeon that tree down :mad:
 
Yvsa--I'll try a "smooth side up" strop next time-- I also want to make a strop rod with a dowel for the curve behind the sweet spot. I've got an old leather purse that belonged to my mom, so I have plenty of leather to play around with. Question though, How did you get the leather to stay on the dowel while the glue was drying?

For those of you who are still unhappy with your sharpening, stick with it, and it will eventually click. Like Yvsa said, if I can do it, so can the rest of you:). If you aren't trying the sandpaper on a mousepad, try it; you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you aren't using a strop, buy or make one. Mine is nothing fancy-- I sanded the piece of 2x4 with some 100 grit sandpaper before I glued on the leather to knock off the splinters and rough spots, and that's about it. I think it took me less than half an hour to make the whole thing, not counting drying time for the epoxy.
--Josh
 
Oh come on now, if Bruise's khuks are as dull as he says they are, he doesn't chop wood, he "bruises" it.:p :D

Hair poppin' sharp is nice for fine cutting, but as Uncle Bill and others smarter'n me have pointed out, on a khuk, or any other big chopper, it's fairly unecessary.

Sarge
 
Question though, How did you get the leather to stay on the dowel while the glue was drying?
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Josh, try some contact cement. My favorite for leatherwork is Barge Cement, it comes in a yellow tube with a picture of a bear on it.

Sarge
 
Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn
Hair poppin' sharp is nice for fine cutting, but as Uncle Bill and others smarter'n me have pointed out, on a khuk, or any other big chopper, it's fairly unecessary.
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I think you are absolutely correct. I don't think a hair popping edge is at all necessary on a big chopper. I was just frustrated at not being able to achieve one :rolleyes: For general use, I am finding that 400 grit wet dry paper works well. I've gone up to 2000 grit on the sandpaper, and it doesn't seem to make much of a difference in terms of chopping ability.
--Josh
 
Being I can't afford one just yet,I've been using an old belt with that jewel stuff on it. ;)
 
The belt don't know it's not a razor strop, I won't tell if you don't.:D

Want to try something kinda silly? The cardboard on the back of a legal pad, and some other notepads, makes a durn good strop. It's basically just compressed fibers so it works like leather. Can't remember if it was Bill Bagwell, Rick Moran, or someone else I heard it from, but I tried it and it works.

Sarge
 
.I've tried that,After the belt,which does an OK job.I go with the notepad.Works very well:DI must say.I think I got it off the SPYDERCO SITE. THANKS SARGE, FRANK C....
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman


Question though, How did you get the leather to stay on the dowel while the glue was drying?

--Josh
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Josh, et al:
A nice supply off good rubber bands in assorted thicknesses and widths make for good clamps on some odd shaped projects. They're cheap so it's not a waste of them to use as many as you need.

I use the yellow carpenter's glue when I'm glueing leather onto wood since that's the one I have the most of all the time.:)

The contact cement works well too, as Greg has said.:D
 
Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn


Hair poppin' sharp is nice for fine cutting, but as Uncle Bill and others smarter'n me have pointed out, on a khuk, or any other big chopper, it's fairly unecessary.

Sarge
Click to expand...

Yep


I will keep my utility edges on my khuks thank you.:D

Don't think you will notice the difference in a sharp utility edge and razor sharp edge when chopping wood. (Other than maybe the utility edge will hold up longer).;)

I don't think I want to shave hair off my arm with my 20" AK. :eek:
 
Originally posted by Ankerson
I will keep my utility edges on my khuks thank you.:D

Don't think you will notice the difference in a sharp utility edge and razor sharp edge when chopping wood. (Other than maybe the utility edge will hold up longer).;)
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Well Ank there's a few of us who uphold that a highly polished edge will hold up much longer than one that is not no matter whether "utility edge" or not.
When you sharpen any knife or axe to it's ideal edge bevel and polish it the edge is very probably gonna last longer with less damage to your tool.
The micro scratches found on most utility edges are stress risers that can actually cause your tool to fail and chip, sometimes quite large chips.:(
Ask Samuri Dave how a polished shaving edge on his GRS he got off of me has held up and it's been over a year now.:)
I keep saying the angle of the edge bevel doesn't have anything to do with shaving sharp but it seems no one wants to hear that.
Try hollow grinding a three cornered file and then flatten the edges on a Norton Fine India Hone.
I've done that several times and all the edges have shaved. The "burr knife" edges actually have to be taped over to keep from cutting the user with merely hand pressure!!!!:eek:
 
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