Help with stropping

Railsplitter · Post by **Railsplitter** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:42 pm

I've been using a Lansky and a Sharpmaker for some time now but I have never used a strop. I'm ready to give it a try.
I think I will practice on the cardboard that is on the back side of a yellow writing pad. I have heard that this works also. If I can get the hang of it I will consider buying a leather strop. I'm not very good at making things so I won't even try to make my own.
I need some advice on how to strop correctly without ruining my nice sharp edge. Also can someone explain to me the concept of using a liquid on the leather? Does just plain leather do just as good of a job? What is the liquid for?
Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:29 pm

This may help to get you started :

http://www.classicshaving.com/articles/ ... 1/4057.htm

Instructions are for razors, but a very sharp knife should be similar.
I asked my barber for a demonstration, and he was happy to oblige.

One big thing he didn't point out, but I noticed...When rolling the blade over, roll the back of the blade, not the edge. Keeps fron knocking the edge off if you get careless.

Fran

mrwatch · Post by **mrwatch** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:23 pm

I can tell you that wood carvers use leather glued to a strip of wood the width of the largest blade. Also double sided carpet tape works good. I watch the free boxes at garage sales for old leather mens belts. Use rouge stick to charge the surface. NOTE=carving knifes have a straight profile where pocket knives have a rouded edge. Never remember which is called hollow ground. Pull the knife towards you untill you slide it clear of the surface if a carving knife so you don't round the edge.
Bob

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:24 pm

Here is the right place go with this question. These guys are good. I also belong to this forum as well. I bet you will be very happy with the results

http://www.straightrazorplace.com

Nice guys too

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:15 pm

I'm a big fan of stropping and I've found its best, for me at least, to keep it simple.

Your jeans leg will work, your leather belt will work, cardboard works. Heres what I do: Push the blade across the surface like you are taking a slice off. While pushing, increase the angle of the blade (increasingly perpendicular to the surface) until it "catches." Stop. Maintain that angle and pull back a couple times. Do the same thing with the other side of the blade.

Works for me and keeps my blades pretty darn sharp. You can get a leather strop, charge it with a compound...that will make your knives crazy sharp.

mrwatch..I may be wrong, but I think just about all pocket knives have a straight profile (flat edge/secondary bevel/grind). I think that what happens is that, unless you are incredibly, almost inhumanly, precise when sharpening/stropping that straight profile (flat secondary bevel) becomes a rounded edge (convex edge/secondary bevel/grind). That convex edge bevel is a good thing though!

Neither is hollow. The "non-edge"/primary part of a knife can be hollow (concave) ground, but I dont think there is such a thing as a hollow edge bevel.

Ringmaster · Post by **Ringmaster** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:31 pm

I, too, agree with all these methods. I've never used cardboard, but I can see how it would work.

One thing we mustn't forget - the blade needs to be sharp, before you attempt to improve the edge by stropping. I've seen A.G. Russell strop a Hen & Rooster, using the palm of his hand (which is only "untanned" leather, after all). But, the knife was already hair-poppin' sharp... the strop just made it scary sharp.

I've always wanted a barber's strop, but made do with a wide leather belt, different compound on each side.

G'luck,
JR

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:40 pm

That's an excellent point Ringmaster! Stropping isn't going to work if the blade isnt sharp to begin with.

You really shouldn't have told me about the palm stropping.

Because I really enjoy stropping (one time my wife was on the phone and told somebody "My husband is shaving his pants.") and I'm probably juuust stupid enough to do it.

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:42 pm

and another thing...Ringmaster...

How's the forearm hair holding up? I'm getting a bald spot.

Ringmaster · Post by **Ringmaster** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:28 pm

Hey John, bald is beautiful, or so I've been told....

Seriously - "fluff" up the hair on your arm (run your hand across it, backwards). Then, test your edge by cutting the hair without touching the skin. IE., don't try to shave it all off. It'll grow back faster, and you don't look like you have leprosy.

When it'll do that, it's sharp.

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:15 pm

Im a pretty hairy guy Ringmaster, so a shorter spot ends up looking like a bald spot! If I could somehow do it on my back, I'm sure my wife would be happy!

But I can't help it, being that I have gotten my Case CV peanut up to that "hair popping" stage. Pretty proud of myself, even if I look like a leper!

useem · Post by **useem** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:19 am

WOW!!! CUTTING THE HAIR WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SKIN!!!

Is that like droping a silk scarf onto the edge of a Samarai sword and cutting the scarf in two. Now you are talking about a REALLY sharp knife!!!

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:30 pm

I got my trusty Case CV peanut doing just that useem. I'm pretty impressed with myself!

Actually I more impressed with that CV that Case uses!

Its a miracle of modern metallurgical technology!

All About Pocket Knives

Help with stropping

Help with stropping

strops