Where to buy/how to make a leather strop

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devdev98

Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
180
So I have gotten a fairly decent pocket knife collection now and now find my self loving to keep them sharp. I use a ken onion worksharp to get them cutting hair semi ok off my forearms. And while looking through the forums see these awesome mirror polished edges and such and how people say they are so sharp and are "hair whittling sharp" and decided I want that to. I purchased a paddle that has a hand grip and is about 3 inches by 12 inches or so and thought I'd glue some leather to and put some compound on it only to realize I can't find leather big enough for it. So now I turn to the expert to push me in the right direction. I don't care if I just have to buy a strop from a store but I haven't really found any outside of paying what I think is a lot of money. So I ask to things 1 what are some brand name strops or custom made strops and where can I buy them. And 2 what are some other ways to make a strop.

I thank you all in advance and if I posted this in the wrong spot I am sorry.
 
Check out STROPMAN. I have his Billy strip and his 4 compounds. Love it. It's like therapy. I found his prices to be very good. Have had it for going on 2 yrs now and wouldn't change a thing.
 
I use the backside of my belt to stop my knives. I put the end though the buckle and put my foot in the loop. Grab the other end with my hand and strop away. I have my Esee 4 and many other folders hair popping sharp using the lansky stones and my belt. Works great for me.
 
devdev98 said:
So I have gotten a fairly decent pocket knife collection now and now find my self loving to keep them sharp. I use a ken onion worksharp to get them cutting hair semi ok off my forearms. And while looking through the forums see these awesome mirror polished edges and such and how people say they are so sharp and are "hair whittling sharp" and decided I want that to. I purchased a paddle that has a hand grip and is about 3 inches by 12 inches or so and thought I'd glue some leather to and put some compound on it only to realize I can't find leather big enough for it. So now I turn to the expert to push me in the right direction. I don't care if I just have to buy a strop from a store but I haven't really found any outside of paying what I think is a lot of money. So I ask to things 1 what are some brand name strops or custom made strops and where can I buy them. And 2 what are some other ways to make a strop.

I thank you all in advance and if I posted this in the wrong spot I am sorry.
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You did post in the wrong place. Here is where you will find all the information you need.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment
 
For $19 shipped you can get the Hand American brand leather for strops, which is a 6" by 12" piece of leather, suitable for covering both sides of your paddle. Use some rubber cement to attach it. You can do rough side up on one side and smooth side up on the other.

Or you can just use an old belt and a stick of $3 green polishing compound from the Hardware store.

Also, left you a VM with a list of places to get you started in your strop shopping.

Also, check out Jason B.'s post on how to make a strop. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/640503-Make-a-leather-strop
 
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Wow it's amazing not even an hour later and you guys pointed me towards where I needed to go the Billy strop from the strop man looks perfect and is way cheaper than ones I was looking at previously. And not that I couldn't make one still but it looks like stropman knows what he's doing and I'd like to support him. I thank you guys for helping me. Although any other advice is still appreciated.
 
Check back tomorrow, the real experts are probably asleep. You'll get some good suggestions.
 
devdev98 said:
So I have gotten a fairly decent pocket knife collection now and now find my self loving to keep them sharp. I use a ken onion worksharp to get them cutting hair semi ok off my forearms. And while looking through the forums see these awesome mirror polished edges and such and how people say they are so sharp and are "hair whittling sharp" and decided I want that to. I purchased a paddle that has a hand grip and is about 3 inches by 12 inches or so and thought I'd glue some leather to and put some compound on it only to realize I can't find leather big enough for it. So now I turn to the expert to push me in the right direction. I don't care if I just have to buy a strop from a store but I haven't really found any outside of paying what I think is a lot of money. So I ask to things 1 what are some brand name strops or custom made strops and where can I buy them. And 2 what are some other ways to make a strop.

I thank you all in advance and if I posted this in the wrong spot I am sorry.
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You have a ko work sharp but are only getting an edge that'll semi shave hair?

I also use a Ken onion and I can get a polished hair whittling edge straight off the machine if I take the time to get it there, but at a minimum I'll have a hair popping edge. Sounds like you need to practice your technique a lil bit.
 
Bobby3326 said:
You have a ko work sharp but are only getting an edge that'll semi shave hair?

I also use a Ken onion and I can get a polished hair whittling edge straight off the machine if I take the time to get it there, but at a minimum I'll have a hair popping edge. Sounds like you need to practice your technique a lil bit.
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That could very well be I mean most of the hair on my arms are gone but it doesn't catch every hair going through it only does patches usually. Some knives are better than others. I also have one knife that won't sharpen at all no matter what I do idk if it's me or the knife.
 
devdev98 said:
That could very well be I mean most of the hair on my arms are gone but it doesn't catch every hair going through it only does patches usually. Some knives are better than others. I also have one knife that won't sharpen at all no matter what I do idk if it's me or the knife.
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What angles/belts are using and steel? Are you using the x65 belt until you reach a burr on both sides before moving on to the x22 belt? Then again using that belt until you reach a burr on both sides before moving on to the x4? The x4 belt you won't really get a burr as it's basically refining and honing your edge. You should also have pretty much a mirror polish by time you come off the x4.(it won't be a prefect mirror, but should reflect nicely).

That's where I stop, I've found the purple 6000 belt to be counter productive. It might polish the edge a lil more but my edges are always duller than before I used it.

Finishing up on a leather strop with compound will further hone the edge, but stop at the x4 belt.


On a side note for harder more wear resistant steels like s30v,3v,s110v, d2 and ect. you gotta start out with the p120 belt to set the bevel.
 
Bobby3326 said:
What angles/belts are using and steel? Are you using the x65 belt until you reach a burr on both sides before moving on to the x22 belt? Then again using that belt until you reach a burr on both sides before moving on to the x4? The x4 belt you won't really get a burr as it's basically refining and honing your edge. You should also have pretty much a mirror polish by time you come off the x4.(it won't be a prefect mirror, but should reflect nicely).

That's where I stop, I've found the purple 6000 belt to be counter productive. It might polish the edge a lil more but my edges are always duller than before I used it.

Finishing up on a leather strop with compound will further hone the edge, but stop at the x4 belt.


On a side note for harder more wear resistant steels like s30v,3v,s110v, d2 and ect. you gotta start out with the p120 belt to set the bevel.
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Yep I do the x65 then x22 then x4. I don't though however put a burr on one side then do the other to me it seems counterintuitive to me I guess I could try it though. I usually do 25 degree edges but some I do about a 22 except my wusthof kitchen knife I do 15 degrees. The knife I can't get to sharpen is a Kershaw starter 2 tanto i can't find any info about it online. And your right they do normally have a nice reflective edge when done. But one question is it possible the welts are worn out? Idk how to determine that though.
 
devdev98 said:
Yep I do the x65 then x22 then x4. I don't though however put a burr on one side then do the other to me it seems counterintuitive to me I guess I could try it though. I usually do 25 degree edges but some I do about a 22 except my wusthof kitchen knife I do 15 degrees. The knife I can't get to sharpen is a Kershaw starter 2 tanto i can't find any info about it online. And your right they do normally have a nice reflective edge when done. But one question is it possible the welts are worn out? Idk how to determine that though.
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Achieving a burr is the most important step...The burr is what let's you know you've actually reached the apex on both sides. You could very well be still grinding the bevel and haven't fully apexed the edge, thus giving you mediocre results.

The belts last along time, as they wear down it actually exposes new abrasives beneath. Then even when they are severely worn they'll still work but they become finer than they originally were. I'll use a worm x22 belt after a fresher x22 belt as it's a lil finer grit before moving on to the x4.

When a belt is really done you'll likely see chunks missing from the abrasive,(that means you reached the final layer of abrasive) or it'll break.
 
Bobby3326 said:
Achieving a burr is the most important step...The burr is what let's you know you've actually reached the apex on both sides. You could very well be still grinding the bevel and haven't fully apexed the edge, thus giving you mediocre results.

The belts last along time, as they wear down it actually exposes new abrasives beneath. Then even when they are severely worn they'll still work but they become finer than they originally were. I'll use a worm x22 belt after a fresher x22 belt as it's a lil finer grit before moving on to the x4.

When a belt is really done you'll likely see chunks missing from the abrasive,(that means you reached the final layer of abrasive) or it'll break.
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I guess that does make sense putting a burr to make sure you reach the apex. I'll try it out tonight on the kershaw I can't get sharpened. And let you know. I did also by the way buy the billy strop from stropman but has a 30 day backorder :(. And thanks for the info
 
devdev98 said:
I guess that does make sense putting a burr to make sure you reach the apex. I'll try it out tonight on the kershaw I can't get sharpened. And let you know. I did also by the way buy the billy strop from stropman but has a 30 day backorder :(. And thanks for the info
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Np hopefully it'll help get you some sharper edges. Also don't be afraid to drop your angles down. When I first got it I was sharpening everything except kitchen knives on the 25° setting thinking that was what they needed to be durable.

However after having it awhile I started experimenting and found many knives do better with a more acute edge. Now I sharpen pretty much everything between the 15-20° guide.

My bk9 is 15dps with a 17dps micro bevel, my bk16 is 15dps, my bk2 is 17dps and so on. They take a much sharper edge and they've held up to extreme use without damage.
 
Well it took your advice and tried it out on the Kershaw and it still just wasn't up to snuff for me and barely cuts hair. I did however take a buck 110 and changed it to about 17 degrees and now it does have a nice mirror polish not perfect but dang close. And now some hairs on my arm pop up in the air while shaving.
 
devdev98 said:
Well it took your advice and tried it out on the Kershaw and it still just wasn't up to snuff for me and barely cuts hair. I did however take a buck 110 and changed it to about 17 degrees and now it does have a nice mirror polish not perfect but dang close. And now some hairs on my arm pop up in the air while shaving.
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Nice, sounds like you're on your way to success. Once you get the strop with compounds, you'll start seeing edges even more refined.

Like they say practice makes prefect...

Now on that Kershaw did you raise the burr on each side on the first 2 belts?
 
Bobby3326 said:
Nice, sounds like you're on your way to success. Once you get the strop with compounds, you'll start seeing edges even more refined.

Like they say practice makes prefect...

Now on that Kershaw did you raise the burr on each side on the first 2 belts?
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I did and did it at about 17 degrees. It's a tanto also I am not good at sharpening the tip part but on this one even the back part doesn't seem like it gets sharp like I normally get
 
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