What angle do I strop at?

BruiseLeee

BruiseLeee

Joined
Sep 7, 2001
Messages
5,946
When I use the strop, what angle should I use it at? Is it the same angle as the sharpened edge?

What's better to use, a piece of leather stuck on a piece of wood or a leather strap?

:confused:

I'm getting there slowly :) Still need some work though. Maybe lotsa work.

Do I need to reprofile the blades to start a convex edge? I guess it would depend on the current profile and how much metal there is. Yes?
 
The strip of leather I obtained for my strop (about 1.5"x12" for smaller blades like the BAS and 15"AK) is glued on to a strip of closed-cell foam before the plank of wood. The foam provides some cushioning since the leather strip I got is quite thin. The dimensions for the foam is the same as the leather, and the wood is just longer for handling at either end.

With the convex bevel, the angle is not that critical. But as to what angle to strop at with the flat or double bevel,...not sure... I've got a Bura sirupati with flat bevel, and I strop that the same way I run the steel to it (ie. flat on the bevel). And as I get to the end of the strop, slightly lift the spine, and then the same on the other side.

Hope this helps a little. I'm new at this, so do take with a pinch of salt ;) :)

Eric
 
Wait wait,,, I got this one:

You should strop at the correct angle.


Bruise, you should strop at nothing, no matter what anyone says! ;)

Keith
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
When I use the strop, what angle should I use it at? Is it the same angle as the sharpened edge?
Click to expand...

No. Strop at about a 10* to 15* angle.

What's better to use, a piece of leather stuck on a piece of wood or a leather strap?
Click to expand...

Depends on what you like or prefer. I'm lazy so I like the leather on a piece of wood. The leather needs to be at least 9 to 10 oz leather or 9/64" to 10/64" for wood application.
The hung strop or old style razor strop is prefered by many as you can control the edge better by loosening or tightening the leather.

Do I need to reprofile the blades to start a convex edge? I guess it would depend on the current profile and how much metal there is. Yes?
Click to expand...

Yes. A convex edge can be put on any blade grind including a hollow ground edge even though that's getting ridiculous.:)

Using a strop with Tripioli on it will gradually make any edge go to convex as Tripoli is a little coarser than Jwelers Rouge and especially coarser than Chromium Oxide.
 
Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel .......... you should strop at nothing,.....
Click to expand...
Because the Buck strops here.

Now there's an edgy quote from some old President.

Was it the same President who said,
"Walk softly and carry a big khuk" ?
 
I have found that with a convex edge you can (must?) sharpen at any and all angles until things are completely formed.

Worst thing a fine compound on a leather strop can do, even if it misses the edge completely, is just polish the blade some.

As far as angles go, I would say start stropping at the finest possible angle and then test the edge. If the hairs aren't flying off your arm, use a slightly steeper angle and then test again. You will know when there's no need to go any steeper.

Yvsa's strops work very well. :D

-Dave
 
Yes, thanks, Yvsa. Ddean and I are doing little to add real content. I just saw an opening left by HI forum funnyman Bruise, and hadta get makin with the humor. Good pun BTW, Ddean.

Keith
 
Lee Valley Tools has a good strop at a good price.
 
the line was busy.


"STROP !!! in the name of Love!!!"


Strop! In the name of love before you break my heart
Strop! In the name of love before you break my heart
Think it over,
think it over




(sighs...back to the first step.)


Kis
:rolleyes:
 
I tried some of Dave K, and Eric C's angling and it seemed to work well. Thanks.

Uncle Bill said "another sharpening expert in the making". He said that to me about 8 months ago in another post. :) He should be posting, "This one's a little slow. He's gonna take awhile".
:D

I got my strop at Lee Valley also. It's a little wide for curved blades so I end up using the edges. Dunno if that's correct though.

Now for the next round of bad puns... :(
 
I made a couple of strops in the last few years that get the job done. Both were just old leather belts. Glued one to wood. The other I put a Sta-Con through both ends & left slack to form a loop. Treated the belts with Alberto VO-5 Hair Conditioner (comes in a tube). Stuff is good on leather products of about any kind. The VO-5 made the belt leather very supple. For 'rouge' I used polishing/rubbing compound that you get in an auto parts store in the green can. Last couple of moves lost my tripoli, & red & green rouge. I hang the plastic Sta-Con over a nail or bolt, tension it with my left hand & strop the blade along it with the right. Rig doesn't cut fast, but it works & as Dave said, the worst thing it can do is polish the blade a little bit. Tripoli is better, but the rubbing/polishing was already here, & the auto parts places around McMinnville didn't have any rouge or Tripoli. :p
 
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