Stropping Leather

[StretchNM]

I need some advice from the experts to the relative beginners.

I'm trying to learn how to strop. So I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a bag of scrap leather. This is quite a bit of leather scraps for $5.99. It looks to be about 7 to 9 ounces thick. Some of it is dyed and some not. So I cut two pieces 3" x about 9" and glued them to some hardwood. Although some fo the leather is dyed, none of it is waxed or finished, as far as I can tell. I have some white stropping paste that another forum member sent me but I don;t know how to apply it or even use the strop.

- Does this sound like the right leather to use?

- How should I apply the rouge or stropping paste?

- How do you make sure the leather is covered evenly? (Or do you even worry about it)

- I understand that very light pressure (the weight of the blade) is all that's needed to strop. Is this true, or...?

- Should I strop at the same angle as the edge or slightly lower or higher?

I was able to sharpen and strop a BRKT mini-canadian to a razor sharp edge, but I can;t get it to pop hairs on my arm. At that time, I was using a piece of leather my wife gave me. It's probably about 2 or 3 ounces and it has a glossy finish on it. In this case, I heated it with a shop lamp and applied the white paste. I really can;t tell if it worked or not. I mean, the blade was not "noticeably" sharper after stropping, but at least I didn;t dull it (far as I can tell).

Any helpful advice would be welcome.

 

[z282z06]

I need some advice from the experts to the relative beginners.

I'm trying to learn how to strop. So I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a bag of scrap leather. This is quite a bit of leather scraps for $5.99. It looks to be about 7 to 9 ounces thick. Some of it is dyed and some not. So I cut two pieces 3" x about 9" and glued them to some hardwood. Although some fo the leather is dyed, none of it is waxed or finished, as far as I can tell. I have some white stropping paste that another forum member sent me but I don;t know how to apply it or even use the strop.

- Does this sound like the right leather to use?

- How should I apply the rouge or stropping paste?

- How do you make sure the leather is covered evenly? (Or do you even worry about it)

- I understand that very light pressure (the weight of the blade) is all that's needed to strop. Is this true, or...?

- Should I strop at the same angle as the edge or slightly lower or higher?

I was able to sharpen and strop a BRKT mini-canadian to a razor sharp edge, but I can;t get it to pop hairs on my arm. At that time, I was using a piece of leather my wife gave me. It's probably about 2 or 3 ounces and it has a glossy finish on it. In this case, I heated it with a shop lamp and applied the white paste. I really can;t tell if it worked or not. I mean, the blade was not "noticeably" sharper after stropping, but at least I didn;t dull it (far as I can tell).

Any helpful advice would be welcome.

http://www.barkriverknives.com/convex.htm

 

[sodak]

I strop edge trailing, at the exact same edge angle or just a smidgen lower (less angle).

If you are using a paste-like strop, rubbing the paste in fairly well works pretty good, if it's a little heavy in spots, the stropping action should even it out. You can use a black sharpie to mark your edge, and in a strop or two you'll know if your angle is right. Some people recommend placing your knife flat on the strop, then lifting the spine until the edge catches on the leather - that's your angle. I would only do that on scrap leather, with a sharp knife, it's really easy to screw up your leather.

Use a very light touch. Just the weight of the knife. After 20 passes with compound, it should go from being sharp to being sharp enough to tree top trim and scare you.

After I've said all that, I've had the best luck with this.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/196039.htm
or
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=J31

The reason is that I use a straight razor for shaving, and am most comfortable with hanging strops. I apply the paste to the linen side. That works (by far) the best for me, even though everyone else says not to do it. YMMV. If you could find some cheap linen at Hobby Lobby and stretch it tight over a 2 x 4 and chalk it up, it would probably do the same thing for you.

Good luck!