Stropping.

This is similar to the one I have, they work well for touch-ups and convex edges.
 
Thats all I usually do and if there are any small nicks or chips I'll take the edge to my 8000 mesh diamond hone first then re-strop. Using just a fine stone and a strop you can make a edge last months before needing to rebevel.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Thats all I usually do and if there are any small nicks or chips I'll take the edge to my 8000 mesh diamond hone first then re-strop. Using just a fine stone and a strop you can make a edge last months before needing to rebevel.
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Ok. Should I go get a diamond stone from REI and use that first, then the .25 strop? If yes, what grit should I get for the diamond stone?
 
A couple questions after reading this entire thread. I'm going to make my own strop using this 8oz leather

leather

I want to have a natural leather side (no compound) and another side with 1 micron diamond sharpening paste. Where does natural leather fall on the scale of grit? Is it more or less coarse then the 1 micron paste? Would I leather strop first, or last?
 
adrock1978 said:
A couple questions after reading this entire thread. I'm going to make my own strop using this 8oz leather

leather

I want to have a natural leather side (no compound) and another side with 1 micron diamond sharpening paste. Where does natural leather fall on the scale of grit? Is it more or less coarse then the 1 micron paste? Would I leather strop first, or last?
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You would make two strops from that piece, glue the rough side down and only apply paste to one strop. 2.5x12 is more than big enough for a strop. You would use the 1 micron before the natural leather, don't know what "grit" it would be considered but stropping on natural leather yields a different edge than compounds. It works great for shaving but makes the edge almost too smoothe for every day cutting.
 
knifenut1013 said:
<snip> but stropping on natural leather yields a different edge than compounds. It works great for shaving but makes the edge almost too smoothe for every day cutting.
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what is that supposed to mean too smooth....!?!?!? Explain ....
is that like too sharp?
 
Superdave1 said:
what is that supposed to mean too smooth....!?!?!? Explain ....
is that like too sharp?
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The edge has very little tooth or bite, making the edge very smooth like this is ideal for shaving but tends to glide over everything else like a butter knife even though its very sharp. Stopping with the 1 micron paste will leave a edge way more that sharp enough.
 
Would I always glue the rough side down and strop on the smooth side regardless of compound or not? Is there a benefit then, based on your first response, to stropping on plain leather after using the 1 micron? Or would it make more sense to go to .5 micron, and never use plain leather. Did that make sense?
 
I was under the impression that with one piece of leather, I could get two stropping sides. No?
 
adrock1978 said:
Would I always glue the rough side down and strop on the smooth side regardless of compound or not? Is there a benefit then, based on your first response, to stropping on plain leather after using the 1 micron? Or would it make more sense to go to .5 micron, and never use plain leather. Did that make sense?
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You got it, always use the smooth side. Going to 0.5 would be the next step and if you really want insane 0.25, I personally see no need in using natural leather with the current available compounds on the market.
 
Thanks man. Quick and easy answers! I have my leather and 1micron diamond compound on the way. I dont know if I want to spring for a .5 micron tube of the diamond stuff. Is that green Lee Valley stuff any good for a .5?
 
adrock1978 said:
Thanks man. Quick and easy answers! I have my leather and 1micron diamond compound on the way. I dont know if I want to spring for a .5 micron tube of the diamond stuff. Is that green Lee Valley stuff any good for a .5?
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The green stuff (chromium oxide) will work but is much slower and not very effective on high wear resistant steels. There will also be a difference in sharpness between chromium oxide and diamond due to the shape of their particles. Both will be sharp but the edge sharpened on the diamond compound will have more bite. Best to stick with the diamonds, use the 1 micron first and if you feel you need your blade sharper move on to 0.5
 
Ok, I got my diamond paste, and made my strop. The strop itself is about 2"x12". The paste comes in that little syringe. How do I apply it to the strop, and how much of an area covered do I need?
 
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