Stropping a Folding Knife

W

Will Kwan

Joined
Nov 23, 1998
Messages
1,594
Would stropping be considered hard on the lock of a locking folder (lock back, Axis, Roller, Frame, etc.)?

I have not had any folder let go during stropper but it is always on the back of my mind.

Will
 
Stropping should have no effect on the mechanism of a locking folder. I routinely strop just about every knife I make and have never had any king of failure on a folder.

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Mondt Custom Knives
For the Word of God is...sharper than any two edged sword.
 
While I don't doubt that thier are folders that would release under such mild pressure, I would not want to actually do any serious work with them as it is not difficult to generate much more force cutting various materials.

The only way to damage a decent folder while stropping would be to press so hard you break the blade and/or pop the handle apart. That would take a decent amount of effort and one hell of a heavy strop to withstand the pressure.

-Cliff
 
Will: I've stropped about every folder I've ever owned on a piece of leather and some jeweller's rouge. I haven't noticed any wear on the blade locking mechanism. The only thing it might cause (if you press hard) is blade play. I generally stick my index finger on the flat to keep it from bending when stropping.

DN: Stropping is using a piece of leather, with or without polishing compounds, and using a reverse direction sharpening stroke to polish the edge and remove miniature burrs on the edge.
 
Stropping is a final sharpening step. The blade is pulled away from the edge along a piece of leather at an acute angle. The idea is to align the micro-serrations that exist along the edge. It can also polish the edge and make it 'sharper' and more durable. It may Reduce slicing efficiency on some soft materials (e.g. meat).

Stropping a blade frequently during use will maintain the edge, and the edge will not need to be put to the stone so frequently. Search up the word 'strop' in this forum, or any of the three archived blade discussion forums. This topic comes up frequently.

Paracelsus, compulsive stropper
 
Thanks for the info.

I got my strop from Lee Valley Tools. I made my second and longer strop from a piece of belt leather from a local leather craft store. They also, carry a variety of abrasives you can load the strop up with.

Will
 
Dark Nemesis,
You can buy some very nice factory made strops. But I'm cheap. I took a piece of scrap wood (that was very flat on both sides) about 2"x15" and glued some fairly heavy vegetable tanned leather to it. On one side the smooth side is up, the rough inner part is up on the other. Finding stropping compound might be a little harder, but jewellers rouge works really well, as Comrade Chang said.

You can also use other materials as impromptu strops, the cardboard backing on a notepad works pretty well, though it might take a bit longer. I've even heard of people using the palm of their hand to strop, after rubbing some dirt on them (I can't find that thread) though I wouldn't want to do that regularly.

When I get a chance to go to my Dad's shop I like to use a sewn fabric buffing wheel loaded up with compound. That is the lazy (or busy) mans strop, but don't let the wheel catch the blade. You don't want a sharp piece of steel flying around at high velocity. Never ever use a loose cloth buffing wheel either. That's an invitation for disaster.

All of the information you've gotten on this thread so far is very good. You will be presently surprised how much better your edges are after you start stropping them as a final step.

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Paul Davidson

Them:"What's that clipped to your pocket, a beeper?"
Me:"Uuh....yeah, something like that."
 
It may well be only a chemically caused hallucination, but on a few occasions, I've persuaded myself that I've improved an edge stropping on tight denim -- my pant leg. Does have to be tight, or maybe you do, can't remember.
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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Almost any surface can be used for stropping. Jeans work fine. My strops are all pieces of scrap boot leather I get for free just by asking at a local boot repair shop. Even cardboard makes a decent strop in a pinch. Some people use the top of a car window for impromtu edge touch-ups.

Stropping is a state of mind. Understanding what you are trying to accomplish is more important than exactly what equipment you have available.

Paracelsus, acutely obtuse
 
Paracelsus:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Some people use the top of a car window for impromtu edge touch-ups. </font>
Click to expand...

That is steeling or burnishing, which has a different goal than stropping.

-Cliff
 
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