Stropping

K

Kezon

Joined
Sep 19, 2000
Messages
20
I need some advice on how to strop. I have my Fallkniven F1 and my strop from LeeValley with the sharpening compound. I've applied the compund to the one side of the hand strop and I've been trying to sharpen it with out success.

I looked on the internet and didn't find anything that really helped. So I was wondering if someone could explain the technique and how the blade should be angled, held, moved, etc? Or direct me to a webpage with pictures/video of how to do it.

Thanks in advance,
Derek

 
sharpen.jpg


Try that. That is how to sharpen and strop a chisel ground knife, but if it is sharpened and ground on both sides, just do the same sorts of strokes on both sides (but lower your angle a little bit... 30-degrees on each side is too steep, go for about 15-20 on each side).

Wait about 20 minute and I'll make a diagram for normal blades (ground/sharpened on both sides).

[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 05-03-2001).]
 
sharpen2.jpg


OK, I just finished making the diagrams. Remember, raising the burr when on a sharpening stone is important. When the edges dull, it is the end of the edge that is usually rounded or blunted. When you sharpen, you have to restore the end of the edge, so you must sharpen the entire bevel. The burr is the sign that you have ground to the end of the edge bevel.

If you are raising the burr prematurely by grinding at too high of an angle, then you must lower your angle to the proper angle.

The angle of your knife can be found by using a little bit of magic marker on the edge, and then doing a light test stroke on the sharpening stone. If all of the magic marker is removed, your angle is correct. If only some of the marker near the end of the edge is removed, your angle is too high. If the marker near the rear of the edge is removed, but not in the end of the edge, your angle is too low.

Hope all this stuff helps.

Chang
 
Chang, you get my newly invented imaginary award: Blade Steel's Highest Commendation for Meritorious Service in the name of All Things Sharp, which comes with a generous cash award of $0.01. Send me a self-enclosed stamped envelope and I will forward the penny to you pronto, tonto.

Thanks for everyone. Fantastic posts. The charts save a lot of time trying to explain something simple with words that always end up confusing folks.

Now, if you could only animate your charts...
smile.gif


Para



[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 05-03-2001).]
 
Chang, that is a great tutorial!!!
 
Chang,
Do you remember when I commented over at the Knife Review forum about coming back to General Discussion forum to help others with your sharpening knowledge??

See, now you know what I meant!!!!
wink.gif


Excellant diagrams and info.!!!

--The Raptor--
 
Chang:

Thank you, these diagrams are incredibly helpful! I've read a little about stropping here, but haven't yet gotten the tools to try it out -- now I've really got the incentive to do so!

Where's a good place to buy stropping stuff? 1sks?

Thanks,

Ted
 
Chang, GREAT post!
Lee Valley Tools has stropping compounds; I've used their chromium dioxide on my LVT wooden-backed strop with excellent results.
 
Chang,

Very nice job!!!

Michael

------------------
He who has smelt the smoke is never free again...
 
great diagrams, the people here are great; where else would someone take an hour of their time to create a couple diagrams for someone they don't even know. I love this place. :-)


------------------
Pete Jenkins
Lefties unite!
 
Jehster,
Try giving Hand American a little looksee.

I have no experience with them (note-I will soon) but several here speak very highly of this strop system.
Unless you are looking to use a free hanging strop, this fixed unit should be the answer for you.
Also, they have the compounds that you will need.
I can't wait to give this a try myself.
smile.gif


--The Raptor--



[This message has been edited by Raptor (edited 05-04-2001).]
 
Chang,
Really great art work!!

Raptor, Keith at Hand American is a terrific guy, I've done alot of bussiness with him, and his stones and other materials are top notch, I can't say enough about how well he treats his customers!!
Ironhorse
 
And now for a ritter round of Chinese Apprause!
Crap-crap-crap-crap!!!

(sorry, couldn't help myself!)
biggrin.gif


EXCELLENT graphics Chang! Truly professional looking and very clear and easy to understand.
Put your name at the bottom and offer it to EKI, maybe they'll put it up on their website!
(No money, but a heck of an ego boost!)


------------------
Tráceme no sin la razón, envoltura mi no sin honor
Usual Suspect
 
Thanks a ton! Thats a real informative diagram. I'll look at the links posted too by others. I don't have time to play around with sharpening today but I will tomorrow or Sunday and let you all know how it goes.

Thanks again!
Derek
 
Wow! That was great, Chang!

As Raptor indicated, www.handamerica.com is a good site that offers not only stropping sytems but also grit powders and leathers to roll your own strops, as well as advice.

You should also note that stropping will probably produce some rounding of the final edge, resulting a narrow mini-convex edge. I think this is a good thing, as it tends to make the edge a bit more stout and less likely to chip or roll.

 
Wow, guys, glad I could help out.
smile.gif


Para: I think I'm going to make an animated version soon.
smile.gif


Ken: LOL, that's pretty good. I recall going to a Hot Wok restaurant with a couple of my friends, and the lady at the counter kept saying "You want a eggloll with that order?" We started snickering a little bit, but it wasn't obvious. Tried to control the laughter (didn't want to be rude). Then they ran out of eggrolls and she used the speaker system to inform the chef that they were out of eggrolls. "Eggloll, eggloll, eggloll! Out of eggloll!" It was unbearable. We sat down at the table and burst into laughter and laughed until we cried. I'm going to make a super-cool version of my sharpening tutorial, and then maybe send it to EKI and see if they want to put it on their website.
 
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