Stropping

mfaster7

mfaster7

Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
1,729
Lately, rather than sharpening I have been trying to maintain my edges by stropping alone. Thiugh rather time consuming I find it fun and I like the results. I figure tht over time all my edges will become somewhat convex which is a good thing
I use the Lee Valley green compound but found that it cakes up. It cuts well at .5 microns but I did not like the build up. Yhe other day I accidently got some wd-40 on my loom strop. Almost immediately the strop became smooth and flat. For me this was a great discovery so I thought I would share. I hope it works as well for anyone who tries. Subsequently I have read that other oily stuff works as well.
 
Last edited:
I had been doing a quick rub down with a paper towel when the build up got flaky. I have been using the W-D40 on the fine compound. I saw a tutorial where the guy used it, and though what the heck. I have three convex edges, and two are still regular bevel, which I am still stropping to polish them. I am planning on taking my BM to a full convex sometime (when I have the time). So it will chop better.
 
Hey, could you fellas tell me where you go for your strops and compounds etc...? I want to "expand" my sharpening horizons and have been thinking about waterstones but I would like any info on where y'all get your supplies. Any directions to a good tutorial would be doubly appreciated. Thanks much--James Falor SEMPER FI
 
Hey James check out knives ship free dot com and the tube has some tuts.
Hope this helps.
Lee
 
Search for 'leather strop' on the-bay and find them from $10 to $200. Get a cheaper one and if you screw it up you haven't lost $50 or$60 and then you can get a better one if you wish.
 
James Falor said:
Hey, could you fellas tell me where you go for your strops and compounds etc...? I want to "expand" my sharpening horizons and have been thinking about waterstones but I would like any info on where y'all get your supplies. Any directions to a good tutorial would be doubly appreciated. Thanks much--James Falor SEMPER FI
Click to expand...

you can always make your own strop. All you need are some pieces of leather, and a piece of wood, some wood glue and some stropping compound. The hardware store will have wood, glue and stropping compound. I just used a broken belt for the leather.

Or you can buy a nice leather strop on line, etc. Stropping seems to me to be much much easier to get a sharp edge by hand, than any other method. My stropped knives will push cut paper and make hairs jump off. I can't hand sharpen by any other method well.

IMG_0998.jpg



IMG_0985.jpg


IMG_1168.jpg


IMG_0990.jpg

IMG_0993.jpg
 
I started stropping just a few months ago, and find it makes a huge difference. It is the last step in my process, but also something I can do when I need to occupy my hands. I enjoy it, find it peaceful and relaxing, and my knives are sharper than ever.

I have three strops, one was a belt, one came from ebay, and one I made after seeing the picture of mhawg's.

I get my rouge from lowes, except for the white, which came from a leather supply store on ebay.

I can't believe I just started; this process has taken my knives from shaving sharp to the hairs run away when I unsheath sharp. It makes a ton of difference.

My belt makes a perfect strop for convexed blades.

I just started the WD-40 stuff a couple of weeks ago, and it seems to make a lot of difference, too. I need to get a heat gun.
 
I find stropping pretty interesting. If you get the wrong angle you can really dull the edge but when you get it right two or three passes can take a knife from middling to hair whittling sharpness. While it is true that an edge does not remain that sharp for very long a few passes on the loaded strop brings it right back. I agree my knives have never been as sharp as since I began using the strop.
 
I have the Lee Valley stuff and I noticed a lot of caking at first too, so I rubbed it with a scotch bright pad and reapplied it in front of small heater, the heat really helps it go on smoothly.
 
I don't know why it is so much easier to strop by hand, than sharpen with stones by hand. I guess I have never picked up the knack with stones.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top