Why do you strop one way and stone sharpen another?

[adrock1978]

Why is it that when you strop a knife you draw the blade backwards, spine first in either direction, but when you stone sharpen you draw the blade edge first in an end to direction?

 

[cotdt]

You hone edge first so that the burr formation would end up on the other side of the edge. If you do this while stropping the edge cuts into the leather. That said, I find that it really does not matter what motion you use for honing, because any burr formation disappears once you get into the superfine grits. What's important, low pressure and consistent angle are thanks.

 

[armstrong*skier]

on a stone, sharpening with the edge leading removes more material faster. at least that is what i have heard. and on a strop the edge would just cut the leather if you did it that way.

 

[siguy]

I find it alot harder to hold a consistent angle when spine-leading on a stone.

Edge-leading on a strop would cut the leather, as others have said.

In the end it doesn't really matter, as long as you are removing metal at the grit you want.

 

[adrock1978]

Hahaha. Well I understand you wouldn't strop, edge first. I'm wondering why that changes when you hone. But I guess now I understand

 

[me2]

Edge trailing strokes on a stone lead to a larger burr. Sometimes this makes it more difficult to remove and get a sharp edge. It depends on how large it is and what steel is being honed. When I sharpen on a stone, I cut in both directions when getting a burr. For burr removal on stones I use only edge leading strokes. For strops, I use edge trailing, though honing films and super fine sandpaper can be used edge leading, but you must have a light touch and be very careful or you will cut the paper/film. I couldnt tell a difference between leading and trailing on the films, so I use trailing strokes.

 

[Hawkings]

In my experience, you get a bigger burr when dragging the edge.

That being said, I find that dragging the edge is best for softer stones, mouse pad+wet and dry, leather strop and the likes - and pushing the edge will only work properly on harder stones, diamonds, ceramic and the likes.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Your question could be restated as to why do people use edge-forwards on a stone and not just use edge-trailing like on a strop. Me2 and Hawkings cover the most significant answers, it mostly relates to how to minimize burr formation and efficiently remove a burr.

When I first learned to hone (over 50 years ago) it was per my Cub Scout Wolf Manual and my uncle. That was using circular strokes on a sloppy oil stone. I got sharp edges, but I wanted to get a finer shaving performance. I drifted into using stropping strokes on the hone and really liked how it shaved. Then I learned to follow my honing by stropping on a leather belt and I was in hog heaven. I didn't realize that I had weak edges due to a micro-burrs on them.

I got into wood shop classes and experimented with sanding acute "edges" on wood. I discovered that at low angles I would have a lot of trouble with burrs. These were best removed by super-elevation and edge-forwards honing. It was similar in metal shop. Eventually I transferred this info to honing and went to edge forwards (until after the burr is removed).