Stropping: What is the last step?

S

snipes1027

Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
87
If I use a diamond compound or slurry while I'm stropping should I strop again on another clean strop as the last step or am I done after using my last grit of diamond compound/slurry?

Thanks guys
 
I seldom strop beyond my loaded strop but I have noticed a perceived improvement if I finished on smooth, clean leather when I do finish that way. It may be just me though. I get outstanding results with my KnivesPlus loaded strop as the final step.
 
Diamond solution can have different size crystals. I use two, 0.50micron and 0.25.
Although, AFAIK there is 0.10 micron as well.
Our Gunmike manages to go all the way to 0.05 if I am not mistaken.
 
gator knifenut & yourself really are hair whittlin crazies. my hand is not steady enough to get beyond k.s.f. green compound.i do have some diamond paste coming with my ferhman final judgement. if i get better reults i'll let the guys know
 
DennisStrickland said:
gator knifenut & yourself really are hair whittlin crazies. my hand is not steady enough to get beyond k.s.f. green compound.i do have some diamond paste coming with my ferhman final judgement. if i get better reults i'll let the guys know
Click to expand...

You will, and then you'll be asking...... chromium oxide what? ;)
 
The very fineast grit cn be had with a bare horside stop So if you want a progression, begin your stropping (after you've finished with stones) with some 4,000 grit (6 mic) then go with silicon carbide gri at 9,000 grit (2.5mic) silicon carbide paste,, ll of the aboe on some MDF board. Then move up to black diamond paste at 11,000 grit (1.5) on a piece of cowhide, followed by some diamond spray at .5 mics diamond sprayed on a virgin's thigh. then some . By that point you will either have a very, very sharp knife... or be married to the daughter of some old guy with a verry. very large bore shotgun. :)

Stitchalw
 
What is the largest jump from grit to grit that I could use while stropping? Since the strops have to be dedicated to each diamond paste I don't want to go buy 5 of them. My last stone is an ultra fine ceramic at 3 microns and I would like to go all the way down to the HA 12 carat .25 micron spray.
 
All I can say is that I go straight from 1200 rods to a green loaded strop and my knives pop hair after that.
 
Last edited:
Actually, stropping in general improves the edge, but it does make difference what kind of edge do you strop, i.e. if the final stone was 1200 grit vs. final stone of 12000 grit.
 
I use the regular Handamerican chromium oxide green compound. Per ther website it is somewhere around 0.3-0.5 microns.
Then I finish on an old pair of jeans that are strictly for that purpose! :)
 
I've owned a Spydie ParaMilitary in CPM D2 for about a year. The factory edge was very good and I didn't need to sharpen the blade until recently.

Just for fun I used the full process I perform on my straight razors. I started with a fine diamond benchstone, then a 1.0 micron pasted strop, then linen, then a 0.5 micron pasted strop, then linen, then a soft leather strop, then a hard polished honey leather strop.

No kidding razor sharp. Now that D2 is alot grainier than the high-carbon content of my straights but it still came out scary sharp. Its worth the effort in my judgement because the D2 really holds an edge a long time.
 
Can we get together and assemble a chart of stropping compounds? We've seen plenty of charts comparing grit sizes for sharpening stones but nothing really definitive for pastes and powders.
How about we start one at 11 grit silicon carbide and work all the way through to 1/4mic diamond spray? and finish with bare horseshide's 1/10 mic

My own shelves contains both 4.5 and 2.5 grit silicon carbide paste, Black Diamond Boron 1.8 paste grit. (In the past 9 years I've use up almost [but but not quite] 1millimeter of the stuff! I have 4cubic inches of it...) three sticks of Thiers Issard sticks (made of AluOx and diamond) at 10,000 grit, and three Dovo strop sticks (red=3 grit, green= 6 grit, and yellow, which has no abrasivess at all, just leather conditioner,) and HA diamond pastes in .5 and .25 mics. After those I go with a bare strop'

The above compounds do no take into account the powders or bar compound sold in the hardware strores such as Chromium Oxide bars or liquids (aprox 60,000m, diamond sprays and bars of various brands offering different caret weight and ae not quite as convenient to use ) or even the nice to use micro fine films.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: This informaion was collected from the net and had not be verified by scientific testing. 'Most' of the sources are reliable, Trust, but verify .)

Stitchawl
 
Last edited:
o.O

my bench-strop is just leather coated with the oil and gunk off my stones glued to a piece of 2"x4"

if i feel like being a little silly after stropping on the leather, i'll strop again on a piece of clean cardboard.

but i've never felt the need to measure my stropping compound in fractions of a micron.
 
sambo. said:
o.O
if i feel like being a little silly after stropping on the leather, i'll strop again on a piece of clean cardboard.

but i've never felt the need to measure my stropping compound in fractions of a micron.
Click to expand...

How will you be able to carve the biography of Ned Kelley onto the head if a pin?!?


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