Stropping

[buckstopshere]

I have some time while on the road this week so I decided to make a strop. I've never stropped before but wanted to get my knives to next level sharpness. I also like the mirrored effect on the edge.

Stropped the 3mil tonight after touching it up with a spyderco pocket fine stone. Stropped for 20 min with green compound on one side, bare leather on the other. It didn't take long to get the motion down and I was extremely pleased with the results. My 3 mil will shave a swath of hair down to skin in one pass

I've never been able to get a knife this sharp. I know what I'm doing with the rest of my knives when I get home.

 

[THard6]

that's a sexy knife..
I want to get into it!

 

[Mackey]

Show off.

I want to take a knife sharpening class or sumptn

 

[buckstopshere]

that's a sexy knife..
I want to get into it!

Thanks Thard6

The 3mil is my favorite knife.

 

[buckstopshere]

Show off.

I want to take a knife sharpening class or sumptn

It's more intimidating than hard. I bought a sharpmaker and gained confidence. Then I bought a spyderco pocket stone combo with a medium and a fine sandwiched together and started doing free hand like yesterday. Today I stropped for the first time.

If I can do it, I know you can Mackey

 

[slowG]

Who still prints out directions JK looks good where did you get the leather?

 

[chezuki]

Who still prints out directions JK looks good where did you get the leather?

I got leather for mine at Tandy.

 

[buckstopshere]

Who still prints out directions JK looks good where did you get the leather?

Lol, a seasoned professional manufactures rep that travels 20+ weeks a year. Nothing sucks like being in the middle of the boons in Iowa when you hear "Lost Satellite Signal" On your GPS. Plus, I use it as a guide for meeting times. Lol, don't know why I'm defending this.

To answer your question, I bought the leather at woodcraft on E 86th st.

 

[Yellowjeep]

Ya I just read a little about how to do it. Now I'm sharpening knives at work for people and getting yelled at because everyone is cutting themselves on their stupid sharp knives. I couldn't image what they would say if I knew what I was doing.

 

[WhitleyStu]

Harbor Freight sells a 1"x30" belt sander for $39.99 which makes a great power strop with a leather belt from Lee Valley. With a little white jeweler's rouge you can have a mirror finish razor edge in 5-10 seconds. By mounting the sander on its back the belt is moving away from you.

 

[buckstopshere]

Harbor Freight sells a 1"x30" belt sander for $39.99 which makes a great power strop with a leather belt from Lee Valley. With a little white jeweler's rouge you can have a mirror finish razor edge in 5-10 seconds. By mounting the sander on its back the belt is moving away from you.

That's pretty cool and a good price. I'm trying to be more hands on myself to get a feel for the right angle that works best for my uses and such.

 

[WhitleyStu]

I'm trying to be more hands on myself to get a feel for the right angle that works best for my uses and such.

Good idea. If you do ever feel the need for a faster strop method you will have the blade angle memorized. As many knives as I sharpen this is the only way to go.

 

[tom1025]

Op, where did you get your supplies at? Can you post up pictures of your setup? I on the fence on making my own or just buying a barber strop.

 

[DaKruiser]

Op, where did you get your supplies at? Can you post up pictures of your setup? I on the fence on making my own or just buying a barber strop.

I tried the barber setup, it didn't work for me, I mounted my leather to a board and that works great!

 

[Lagrange]

I tried the barber setup, it didn't work for me, I mounted my leather to a board and that works great!

Me too. Works just fine.

 

[tom1025]

I tried the barber setup, it didn't work for me, I mounted my leather to a board and that works great!

Thanks for the tip. How did you secure the leather to the board? I was just surfing Amazon and it seems to be more cost effective if I make my own.

 

[DaKruiser]

Thanks for the tip. How did you secure the leather to the board? I was just surfing Amazon and it seems to be more cost effective if I make my own.

Contact cement,

 

[Fergy35]

I used contact cement on mine too. Works well.

 

[chezuki]

Thanks for the tip. How did you secure the leather to the board? I was just surfing Amazon and it seems to be more cost effective if I make my own.

I used wood glue, works great also.

 

[SmokinSigs357]

My dad used to hot glue pieces of his old leather belts to wood that he would cut in the shape of a small fraternity paddle and strop all of his woodworking chisels and block plane blades.