Strop

W e e e e l l l l l l..........

Dirty bluejeans often work quite well.




:D


really.


here's a couple threads to start.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345765&highlight=strop+wide
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333530&highlight=strop+compound
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339702&highlight=strop+compound

search hi forum for:
strop wide
strop compound

those will get most previous threads on the subject.


not too wide,
otherwise it can't do equal pressure on all the curves



~
~~~~~~~~~
<> THEY call me 'Dean' :)-fYI-fWiW-iIRC-JMO-M2C-YMMV-TiA-YW-GL-HH-HBd-IBSCUtWS-theWotBGUaDUaDUaD
<> Tips <> Baha'i Prayers Links --A--T--H--D
 
Heck, I went to EBay, and got an old one for sharpening straight razors for $5. I went to Lee Valley, got some of their honing compound (chromium oxide based), and wiped it onto the strop. Since I also use this to sharpen my straight razor, I didn't want to glue the strop to a piece of wood, as one often might for sharpening a big knife. But it works well, and the price was right.

t.
 
Thanks everyone. That's exactly what I was looking for. I needed to touch up an Ang Khola I got from Uncle Bill about 7 years ago.
 
Mississippi Rifleman said:
I needed to touch up an Ang Khola I got from Uncle Bill about 7 years ago.
Click to expand...
Every 6 or 7 years, ya need to do that, if you use 'em a lot
:D
 
Ben,
I was looking for a small "paddle type" strop to chunk into my ditty bag for the purpose of keeping my straight razors in proper trim. Couldn't find one to fit my parameters of size/cost, so I set about making my own.
Started with an oak "scant board" 1/4" thick by 2" wide from Lowe's to form the paddle. To that I glued (Titebond II) vegetable tanned leather, grain (smooth) side up. Onto one of the pieces of leather I glued canvas (yes canvas), stretched it out tight and smooth, and once the glue dried, trimmed it off nice and flush all around the edges.
To prepare the strop for use, I loaded up the canvas side with Flexcut Gold, an extremely fine abrasive/polish available at stores that sell wood carving supplies (Wood Craft) or order off the internet. The smooth leather side of the strop I lathered up well with some of my shaving mug soap, working the lather into the leather, wiping off the excess, and letting it dry. Once dry, the fats, etc, in the soap allow you to polish the leather strop fairly slick using a smooth piece of glass like a bottle.
The whole rig, including handle, is only about eight inches long. Fits handily into my shaving kit, and keeps my straight razors shaving silky smooth. To make one suitable for stropping khuks, simply fashion a larger version of what I've described above. The most expensive component would be the Flexcut Gold, but one small brick of that stuff lasts a long, long, time.

Sarge
 
A paste metal polish like Simichrome, Flitz or Metal Glo will work well if Flexicut isn't readily available. :D
 
The Satori Strop: a length of thick, smooth, oily work belt with plenty of Lee Valley's green stuff worked into it, nailed down to the edge of the work bench on one end, smooth side up. It can be laid down on the bench for a solid backing; alternately, you can lift up the free end, pull it tight, and use it as a hanging strop. I'm still unsure of which method is best so I typically use both.

It seems to be getting better with use. I'm pleased with the results. The price was right. (Free, not counting the stropping compound and the cost of a nail.)
 
I took Dan Koster's recommendation and ordered the Lee Valley paddle strop on Wednesday morning. Delivery came yesterday in one day's time. Wow was that fast! I'll report on the results of using it at some point.

Note that I'd intended to make my own on the cheap from some Tandy leather that I need for other projects (hawk sheaths)...but I just never got off of my duff to get it done. Oh well. Winter is coming and that is a good time for smaller projects.

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