Strops

[BIGBEAR]

Hey guys....When finishing up with the sharpening what do you prefer and what would produce the most polished edge? A leather strop loaded with rouge or a felt wheel or is there there something even better then the 2 mentioned?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Hard leather and yellow or white rouge. HARD felt and rouge works good (beware that most buffers run way too fast to strop on a felt wheel),but nothing beats a leather belt run dead slow on the 2X72.Be VERY careful stropping the tip area.I lost the heel of my left palm last year when it snagged and kicked into my hand (I was running the belt too fast).Another thing to be wary of is the "dull blade" syndrome. A blade will feel really sharp when just off the last belt or stone.After you polish off the burr on the strop,it seems duller.It is just that the wire edge is what you were feeling before.The very smooth edge will cut you badly while rubbing your finger along it due to the fact that there is no wire to create that "sharp" feeling.

 

[Don Cowles]

I use belt leather glued to a board, and charged with spray diamond (available from engraving supply houses).

 

[birdog4]

Strips of sheath leather charged with green and black compound mounted on 2x8x1 blocks of wood.
bruce

 

[Gossman Knives]

I've found a fine scotchbrite belt loaded with white compound does a great job bringing the edge to razor sharpness. I still strop afterwards, habit I guess.
Scott