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When stropping do you have to use a compound. Can you just lay a leather belt flat on a table and get good results. Thanks
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stropping
- Thread starter skidmark72
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Maybe.
Depending on the condition of the edge, simple leather can work. However, if the edge is pretty dull, stropping may not help at all, either with or without compound. If you don't see any improvement in maybe 10-20 passes per side, it's likely some work will be needed on the stones first. And even then, it may only need a handful of passes on a stone, to make all the difference and get it ready for stropping. If the edge is already pretty good (shaving sharp), it's often possible to see additional improvement in about 10 passes per side on the strop, or even less. That's the best way to know if stropping is going to work for it. Having to strop for more than maybe 5 minutes' time is a strong indicator that stropping alone probably isn't going to fix it.
David
Depending on the condition of the edge, simple leather can work. However, if the edge is pretty dull, stropping may not help at all, either with or without compound. If you don't see any improvement in maybe 10-20 passes per side, it's likely some work will be needed on the stones first. And even then, it may only need a handful of passes on a stone, to make all the difference and get it ready for stropping. If the edge is already pretty good (shaving sharp), it's often possible to see additional improvement in about 10 passes per side on the strop, or even less. That's the best way to know if stropping is going to work for it. Having to strop for more than maybe 5 minutes' time is a strong indicator that stropping alone probably isn't going to fix it.
David
The quick answer is 'yes.' And 'no.' If your edge is in fair shape, bare stropping will make it a bit better. If it's dull, it won't.
The full answer is that different people use strops in different ways. The original use of strops was to put the finishing edge on a blade that had been sharpened on a series of stones. With a dull knife, start with a large grit stone, perhaps 220, then as you work up the edge, progress to 400, 600, 800, 1000, 2,000, 4,000, 8,000.... as far as you wish to go, and skipping intermediates if you don't mind spending a longer time on the next finer grit. AND THEN FINISH WITH A DOZEN STROKES ON A BARE STROP.
But people enjoy stropping. People enjoy experimenting. And so it's just as possible to use a progressive series of compound grits to work up a good working edge if that is your wish. But the grit sizes in compounds are MUCH smaller than the better stones, so if you are trying to get a good edge using just compounds, it's going to take a lot longer than when using stones first. Some people will strop for hours with one compound before moving to the next finer one. It's often necessary to do that with some compounds. Think of it this way; imagine using a piece of very fine sandpaper on a piece of rough-cut lumber. Yes, it works. But it takes a long, long time.
Back in the day, I'd use finishing tapes to 4,000 grit, then 3-4 different compounds, but always ending up with a bare strop. These days, with better polishing tapes being so cheap, I'll use stones and tapes, then perhaps only Chromium Oxide on a strop for 20 strokes or so, then finish with a dozen strokes on bare shell cordovan horsehide. And that's only if I really want the 'Perfect Edge.' Otherwise, I just maintain my edges weekly with a 20-30 strokes on the Chromium Oxide and a dozen strokes on bare horsehide, only going back to the stones 3-4 times a year. I never strop for minutes on end. Seconds is more like it.
What YOU do is all up to your own personal choices, and how much time you want/need to spend keeping your edges cutting the way you want them to. Me? If I use an edge, I'll strop it that evening for at least 10 seconds... maybe even 15.
Stitchawl