stropping

[nasty_nate_84]

ok, ok i have some trouble stropping. i can get the mirror polish perfect, the edge seems to hold for awile too, but once i start getting. to the 2nd or third compounds it seems like its gettin dull. . the knife is still sharp sharp sharp but its not as sharp as id like. . is my technique going wromg down the line on my polishing hones, or my stropping? when sharpening i push up on the blade., not dragging it up and down. when stropping i pull down. it seems sometimes. ill catch the blade with the leather. does anyone have any recommendations? i want hair popping straight razor sharp shave my face or close as i can withthat every time lol.

 

[Eytan (Ethan) K]

Stropping is final stage, use only one compound - (why 3?), stroke it 5-6 times and check for sharpness.
If you "strop" too much the edge will get a round geometry.

BTW what compounds do you use?

 

[Slipperyfish]

I recently figured it out, I think. I briefly used a 3 strop system of black to green to no compound but never got good results. I think I was expecting it to sharpen my knives. So I searched blade forums, and ran across some tips. Now I use just 1 strop with green compound to put the final touch on after sharpening and to maintain my edge. Brings them right back to shaving after light use. Here is my method, I place the edge on the strop and pull it towards me, raising the angle until it catches. Then I slightly reduced the angle and gently push the knife with light pressure away from me while maintaining the angle. About 5 or 6 strokes per side and I'm shaving again. That's it. Sounds simple because it is. I was overthinking it. I take no credit as I learned it from someone on BF, I would give them credit if I remembered.

 

[HeavyHanded]

ok, ok i have some trouble stropping. i can get the mirror polish perfect, the edge seems to hold for awile too, but once i start getting. to the 2nd or third compounds it seems like its gettin dull. . the knife is still sharp sharp sharp but its not as sharp as id like. . is my technique going wromg down the line on my polishing hones, or my stropping? when sharpening i push up on the blade., not dragging it up and down. when stropping i pull down. it seems sometimes. ill catch the blade with the leather. does anyone have any recommendations? i want hair popping straight razor sharp shave my face or close as i can withthat every time lol.

It is very easy to round the edge off when stropping, either by not holding the edge angle or because the strop surface is too conforming. When you take one of your edges and go back to a stone, stop every few passes and note how much convexity there is at the bevel as it becomes re-established on the stone - this will give a good idea of how much rounding is happening.

Using a harder strop backing is a good idea, doing as much work on the stones as you can before stropping, using only one abrasive (as suggested above) is also a good idea. Stropping can make for a very unified, fine edge, but also has more variables to manage.

 

[nasty_nate_84]

blk white green

 

[nasty_nate_84]

i have one through six but i keep coming back to blk whote green

 

[nasty_nate_84]

my problem. is i keep angling. my edges to one side. i get that one side arm hair shaving sharp, but the other side isnt grrr, i wanna learn how to sharpen to a razor edge every time because. i wanna get a straight. razor and start shaving with without ripping off my face skin lol, because. i keep rolling or angle edging my edge

 

[ksskss]

You certainly CAN use a series of strops and compounds. What is critical is that you are consistent - just like using a series of stones. You do not want to have a different angle for each strop. You should use thin hard strops for an optimal result and the strops should not have a natural abrasive coarser than the compound being used. So if you are starting at a relatively coarse compound like 4 microns or 4000 grit, you can progress to a series of finer abrasives in subsequent strops. If you are finishing on a finer stone say 16,000 or 30,000 you can start with compounds finer than half micron.

---
Ken

 

[Sadden]

What are you using for a strop and compound? Many of these mystery compounds dont say what they actually contain. And contain a blend of abrasives in varrying sizes. Combined with a thicker softer strop and you can quickly see butter knife esque results.

Walk us through your entire progression stones and all and then go from there.

Remember color is not a grit size.

 

[nasty_nate_84]

i have a lansky strop and i have strips of leather i zip tie on super tight with some softer leather seems to work, probably. my technique. i got it today to shave arm hair but i wouldnt trust it on my face whats the trick to getting it razor sharp? what angle should i be using for face shaving sharp? the angle on my blade im testing this on is 30 deg. and im using some compound from lowes bosh brand. and a red from sears and enkay brand white diamond and enkay green

 

[nasty_nate_84]

 

[nasty_nate_84]

 

[nasty_nate_84]

here was my first result out of it not too bad huh? i am happy with what it looks like but the sharpening. part ehhh its okay i guess lol

 

[HeavyHanded]

my problem. is i keep angling. my edges to one side. i get that one side arm hair shaving sharp, but the other side isnt grrr, i wanna learn how to sharpen to a razor edge every time because. i wanna get a straight. razor and start shaving with without ripping off my face skin lol, because. i keep rolling or angle edging my edge

If you want a comfortable shaving edge, you need to work the finer hones and do so with a bit of precision. Then to stropping with a single grit compound in the sub micron. Most of the compounds commonly used for razors will be from .5 to .3 micron or so.

You also need to know what steel your blade is made of, and make sure your abrasive is a good match. Also need to understand geometry - straight razors are ground very acute - 12-16 degrees inclusive for the most part.

You will want to finish on a better cut of horsehide or similar with no compound. A well cased bit of cowhide will work too, but the best results are consistently reported of the horsehide.

It is not too difficult to reliably get an edge that will shave, but getting one that will do so on a regular with comfort is another story. It all starts with a high level of consistency on the stones, start there. No amount of stropping is going to overcome an insufficient foundation.

 

[Eytan (Ethan) K]

It is not too difficult to reliably get an edge that will shave, but getting one that will do so on a regular with comfort is another story. It all starts with a high level of consistency on the stones, start there. No amount of stropping is going to overcome an insufficient foundation.

I agree,I couldn't write it better :thumbup:

 

[nasty_nate_84]

i like. that it clears alot of stuff up. i was also reading people stop sharpening at the medium or fine stone and dont fool with the ultra fine and saphire, then go with the stropping with compound. with better results, i guess theres less room for error and rounding?