Stropping With Micro-Abrasive Sheets

K

Krieger

Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
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Has anyone tried sharpening knives with 3M micro-abrasive sheets attached to a strop instead of using a compound applied to a leather strop? Lee Valley has both Veritas honing compound in 0.5 micron and 3M micro-abrasive sheets in 0.5 micron. If they are similar grits would a sheet be easier to work with than the compound? What were your results and how do the sheets compare to the compound? Here's a link to the 3M micro-abrasive sheets I'm referring to:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=33004&cat=1,43072
 
Moving from General Knife Discussion to Maintenance, Tinkering & Embellishment ...

Please post in the proper forum.
 
I haven't tried (not that I sharpen),
but I don't think it would make a difference
in the sharpening results
since chromium oxide is as tough
as chromium oxide, whether it be embedded
in mylar or a piece of leather.
It might be a smidgeon less messy to use the sheets,
but after a time you'd need new sheets,
because its probably not possible to charge
the sheets like leather.
 
Krieger said:
Has anyone tried sharpening knives with 3M micro-abrasive sheets attached to a strop instead of using a compound applied to a leather strop? Lee Valley has both Veritas honing compound in 0.5 micron and 3M micro-abrasive sheets in 0.5 micron. If they are similar grits would a sheet be easier to work with than the compound? What were your results and how do the sheets compare to the compound? Here's a link to the 3M micro-abrasive sheets I'm referring to:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=33004&cat=1,43072
Click to expand...

I've tried both, and found the following (for me...);
For knives, I prefer a leather strop charged with chromium oxide
For wood carving tools I prefer the micro abrasive sheets.
It all depends upon the curve of the edge and the length of the edge; long relatively straight edges - leather strop,
short and curved gouges and v chisels - micro sheets.

Your mileage might vary. :)


Stitchawl
 
I have used the Lee Valley sharpening films (alll three sizes) on hard surfaces (wood, aluminum, glass) with good results. The 0.5 micron chrome oxide film appears the same as the stuff I use on strops and really can polish an edge.

I do not think the film would have any advantage if used to cover the surface of a leather strop. In fact there may be some disadvantages: the fastening/replacing could be as much or more trouble than loading/cleaning a strop and the mylar film is fairly stiff and would give the strop somewhat different behavior.
 
The abrasive in the sheets is more uniform in size and more uniformly deposited. Easier to clean a blade sharpened on the film, too. I spritz my lapping film with Purell so it doesn't load as quickly.

Another good source for the 3M lapping film is www.toolsforworkingwood.com
 
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