Making a Leather Strop-More Questions on Sharpening

[mrpenguin]

Hey Gents,

I am working on sharpening some Eclipse heads... learning to file myself and hone with a stone.  From what I have read, the best way to remove a burr is to strop it... I do not have a strop.  That said I have (or can buy) leather... so how do I go about making a strop and using it to remove the burr on a double bevel?

Thanks!

[Scarne]

Hit the barber shops in your area...they will most likely have an old strop that they would give you.  That said an old leather belt works, so does the cardboard from a box of cereal (the inside...not the printed side.  Both are ultra fine abrasives and will remove a burr.

Bear in mind that this "burr" is really a very small and fine rolled edge.  If you don't get the results your looking for call Ron Schwartz at KME Sharpeners.

His handle around here is "sharpster".  He has forgotten more about putting an edge on something than the rest of us will ever know about putting an edge on anything.

[ron w]

Just use an old leather belt. On the ruff inside take a mix of oil [any kind] and polishing compound and rub it in to the leather.Screw or nail it to your bench or whatever and you have a strop. Have done this for woodcarving tools and knife and broadheads for a long time...don't cut your self....lol.

[acolobowhunter]

The belt works, but you can also use the sides of a leather boot.  I have done this many times when in the field.

[mrpenguin]

Thanks Gents... think I'll try the cardboard then go for leather if needed after... may have to buy a scrap at Jo Ann Fabrics or something as I have no 'old' belts... kinda use the 2 I own  

[moebow]

I saw several old but in good condition strops at a local flea market recently.  They were the high end types made of genuine shell cordovan.  Don't remember the price but still kicking myself for not grabing one.  You might try there if you have any around.  Antique malls probably another source.

[BobW]

good old cardboard - yep!

[Mo. Huntin]

I might be an idiot but I was thinking about taking a peice of that cereal box cardboard and hooking it to my fine stone on my Lansky (Sorry sharpster I aint got yours yet) Then putting some of the printing paper on to finish it off.  You guys think that would work?  I have used the printer paper to finish with before and I think it really made a diference but I never put it on my stone to keep the angle consistant.

[2madjacks]

for my leather knives I made a strop with a 1x4 and leather, just glue the leather on flesh side (rough side) up and apply a good coat of oil, I use neetsfoot but olive or vegetable will work too, then apply red rouge but have seen some folks use the white or green.  work the rouge in very well and sharpen away.

good luck,

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I just google barber strops and the price rang is $10 up $39 not bad at all.Blake

[BobW]

I hope Ron chimes in here.... A belt strop can be detrimental as it is not a rigid surface, and can do some interesting things to your edge.  Ron was always emphatic that the cardboard be in a hard surface.

I also can comment that I have had better results with cardboard than hide.

[Sharpster]

As for leather strops, all leather is not created equal. Tradional barber strops are made from vegetable tanned leather from horse butts. (no joke). They are very thick and very hard so that the leather doesn't give when a blade is dragged over it. The "give" thing is very important but, you can accomplish the same thing with a belt if you pull it very tight.

Personally I prefer a flap off a plain ol' corrugated cardboard box. Plain brown cardboard is mildly abrasive and works excellent as a stropping material. Just lay a good sized piece on your bench or table for support. You may want to clamp or tape it down so it doesn't move while you're using it. Strop diagonally across the ribs in the cardboard, keeping firm blade contact but don't push down hard enough to crush the cardboard or even compress it.

Brandon,

Yes you can do that with the Lansk...(oops)!    You'll probably need to jump up one angle slot higher to adjust for the added thickness though. One often overlooked thing about stropping is that maintaining a consistent angle is just as important as it is when sharpening.

Ron

[Hattrick]

Would it be a good idea to strop with cardboard then go leather?

[ron w]

I have glued the old belt to piece of wood as well. About 10" long, you can take it with you!

[wollelybugger]

The best strops are made from horse hide and are called Russian Shell. You can pay a good price for them.Any strop made out of the rump of the horse are good enough. Any barber supply house will sell you a strop, most have a canvas side and a leather side. WARNING:  When using a strop the cutting edge is at the back when pulling down the strop, reverse and pull back up the strop. If you lead with the cutting edge you will cut the strop.

[sbschindler]

one other thing that gives a very good edge is the top of your window in your pick-up or car. it has a abrasive edge and will put an edge on your knive or broad. works in a pinch when you are away from the shop.

[Butch Speer]

Use a piece of thin, hard pigskin. It won't roll up over the edge of the head.Glue it to a board & buy regular stropping compound from a wood carving supply. The stropping compound is harder than rouge which is made for jewelers using softer metals. The stropping compound is made for carving tools. They usually average 58 to 60 on the Rockwell. Works really good.

[Jeremy]

Honing and Stropping Guide  

This one demonstrates with a chisel, but the procedure is the same with just about anything.

Stropping, IMO, should be on untreated veggie-tanned leather (very hard surface).  Most of the abrasive compounds guys are talking about charging the leather with are courser than the final stone I use, so what's the point?

If you're just file sharpening the head and want to refine your edge there are better methods than stropping, as it's not going to remove a heavy burr.

[longarrow]

You can also use any edge of thick glass (such as a vehicle window rolled part way down) works great!!  

[Butch Speer]

Jeremy,
The type of compound I'm speaking of is much finer than than a finish stone. It's made for polishing. It's something I use just about every day on my carving tools.