I am looking for a strop that I saw on here a long time ago. It was leather on top of wood and had a sliding panel so that you could keep your compound inside.
I can't find one that has the storage compartment and I feel like I really NEED that feature.
Thanks!
Winmag,
I am not sure of the strop with storage you are referring to. But, that sounds like a potentially hard to come by item.
Why not just buy a $10 - $20 Portable Tool Box or Tackle box with inside trays that can store a good "Variety" of knife maintenance gear and put your strop in the bottom of the box/kit?
Depending on the size strop and amount of compounds and maintenance supplies you use, could determine the size of the case.
Here is my "Knife Maintenance Kit/Box":
There is storage in the lid on two sides of this tool box.
** I Love this little tool box. It is made by "Keter" and called a "Quick-Latch" tool box. I purchased about 4 of them from Home Depot a few months ago for a Promo Price they had them at $10 each. They have a single leaver release mechanism. You lift the black latch that releases two catches on either side - all in one motion. And it self-locks just by dropping the lid. No messing around with goofy latches. This latch system is very cool. Very fast and convenient to both open and close.
Mine was a Promo from Home Depot and had Home Depot's "Husky" logo on it. But, the box now appears to be sold by Black and Decker:
19" version $18.49 :
http://www.amazon.com/Keter-North-America-17186820-Toolbox/dp/B002O04TWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1269813523&sr=1-1
22" - $25.29 :
http://www.amazon.com/Keter-North-America-17186821-Toolbox/dp/B002O083VC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1269813523&sr=1-3
Mine is a 19" version which is PLENTY roomy for my knife maintenance gear.
I use one for my Gun Cleaning and Maintenance gear/supplies as well.
Here is the inside tray showing "some" of my knife maintenance gear (Ren-Wax, polishing compounds, Folder oil, etc.):
Notice the two strips in the front bottom left under the Flitz. Those two strips are a leather and a felt strip from Hand American.
The last time I checked Hand American, they didn't have any more leather strops and were only offering the felt ones. In reality, the felt works VERY well and is quite a bit cheaper. Personally, if doing by hand, I think it is better to have about 3-4 strops -depending on how fine you like to go. But, 98% of what you "Need" for a field knife can be easily done with black and green compounds.
The reality for me though is that I really almost NEVER use my strops anymore. I use a belt sander and finally purchased leather belts for the sander. Notice my compounds are not even in this box..... My compounds are in my garage next to my belt sander. :thumbup:
In case someone is curious about that funny looking block in the tray. That is a little leather covered (for cushion) sanding block I made especially for use on some of my knives years ago before I started doing most of the work with my belt sander. Just wrap a piece of sand-paper around the block and pinch at the handle.
Nifty, handy and all, but NO COMPARISON to a good belt sander - after the learning curve of getting decent at using the belt sander and the appropriate belts, grits, compounds and such. Belt Sanders RULE for knive sharpening and modifying. :thumbup: But, if you don't know what you are doing, Belt sanders can "RUIN" very quickly as well.
Still, for me, I have a hard time imagining I will every likely care to do much sharpening without my Belt Sander any more. Now I just want a better quality 2" belt sander. I "Want" a KMG or Bader or similar. But, I am leaning towards a Craftsman 2"x42 or the Kalamazoo 2"x48" ???
In the bottom of the tool box, I have my Wood strop block with leather strops glued to two-sides, Zip-Lock back to keep certain smelly rags in, and the box my compounds came in:
My "Home-Made" strop block 13" long x 3.25" wide x 2.5" tall:
I originally had a handle on it. So, it was a strop "bat" or paddle or whatever. But, the handle served ZERO purpose that I could tell and mine is plenty large to sit steady on it's own. So, I cut the handle off to make it easier to store and work around. Mine is made of some nice flat heavy-duty pieces of scrap / leftover wood flooring epoxied and screwed together and then I epoxied some thick strop leather on. Simple to make project.
It is larger than most need. But, I like the larger size. I like long continuous motion/strokes and it helps for larger knives. With smaller blades, I just use a smaller section of the strop. No big deal. To me, the strop is a good case of large does everything. Too small doesn't.
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I have not yet put one together...
, But, a popular item for many is to put together a little "Portable Strop Kit" in an Altoid type tin. Pre-coat a couple of leather strips with black and green compound and put a little rag soaked in Mineral Oil or similar oil in a tiny ziplock in the tin - or whatever you need in the tin for your needs.
You can glue some velcro to the back of the leather and one side of the tin if you need to put the leather on a flat surface and have it hold.
.
: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/2116764.htm
