Sharpening A Knife With A Leather Strop: Great For SAK's!!!

Gadget Guy · **on:** January 28, 2009, 05:03:03 AM

Mods: I wasn't sure where to post this. If it's in the wrong place, please move it for me.

I found this great video on sharpening using a strop. I always thought a strop was used for the final edge after you have used a stone, but I tried the technique used in the video and I've had great success! This works especially well on SAK's for some reason.

Anyway, give it a try.

eodtech · **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2009, 05:28:45 AM

Gadget Guy · **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2009, 05:33:58 AM

Quote from: eodtech on January 28, 2009, 05:28:45 AM

Cool "How To" video!

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2009, 07:00:47 AM

Great links guys

Gadget Guy · **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2009, 07:08:43 AM

Quote from: Micky d on January 28, 2009, 07:00:47 AM

Great links guys

Thanks!

BTW, I've found that a hand held board with a strop attached works best for pocket knives. Something like this:

This is the actual one that I use.

Gadget Guy · **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2009, 07:47:17 AM

Can you say Strop? I knew you could!

Gareth · **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2009, 10:04:37 AM

Good links guys. I always reach for the strop first if my knife has gone a bit dull. Most of the time it's all that is needed. It's only if that doesn't work do I go for a stone.

Benner · **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:55:00 PM

Looks like I'll have to invest in a strop soon then.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2009, 03:04:32 PM

Quote from: Benner on February 02, 2009, 12:55:00 PM

Looks like I'll have to invest in a strop soon then.

You can just use your mouse mat, or belt in the mean time

DaveK · **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2009, 03:06:10 AM

This is the one I got. A bit pricey perhaps, but it's nicely finished and hand made in the UK. He includes a little bottle of stropping fluid, (that looks remarkably like Brasso to me).

This is an old photo, but it gives you an idea of size etc:

Benner · **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2009, 10:44:24 AM

Not a bad price for what you get.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2009, 01:15:48 PM

Quote from: Benner on February 04, 2009, 10:44:24 AM

Not a bad price for what you get.

Could be engraved I supose too

Gadget Guy · **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2009, 07:51:09 PM

I think 10 quid is a really good price. I would like a couple of them!

jzmtl · **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:32:00 AM

I just tried power strop with dremel and polishing wheel, can clearly tell the knife (previsouly sharpened to 1500 grit) lost quite a bit of slicing cut power but gained lots of pushing cut power, not sure if I like that. Nevertheless I'll track down some leather and make a proper strop and see what I can do.

Poncho65 · **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2009, 04:34:27 AM

Quote from: Micky d on February 02, 2009, 03:04:32 PM

Quote from: Benner on February 02, 2009, 12:55:00 PM
Looks like I'll have to invest in a strop soon then.
You can just use your mouse mat, or belt in the mean time

I have recently been using my work belt for stropping and it does seem to get you to a new level of sharpness

I first get it as sharp as I can with my Sharpmaker then hit it on the belt quite a bit and you really can tell the difference

I believe I may go the route of a handmade strop

I live about 5 miles from a good leather shop I may go and buy some of there remnants and give it a go

Styerman · **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2009, 07:28:44 PM

Looks good , also very usefull for correcting your significant other .

Chris

Poncho65 · **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2009, 03:33:42 AM

Quote from: Styerman on March 02, 2009, 07:28:44 PM

Looks good , also very usefull for correcting your significant other .

Chris

Probably not a good idea

she would probably take it away and give me 1

cgk · **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2009, 06:08:28 AM

Quote from: Styerman on March 02, 2009, 07:28:44 PM

Looks good , also very usefull for correcting your significant other .

Chris

My wife would just yell at me and tell me Im doing it wrong.

Styerman · **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2009, 03:58:07 PM

Quote from: cgk on March 03, 2009, 06:08:28 AM

Quote from: Styerman on March 02, 2009, 07:28:44 PM
Looks good , also very usefull for correcting your significant other .

Chris

My wife would just yell at me and tell me Im doing it wrong.

Your biggest worry is when she says "harder harder" or tells you that you hit like a girl !

Chris

cgk · **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2009, 04:26:37 PM

Quote from: Styerman on March 03, 2009, 03:58:07 PM

Quote from: cgk on March 03, 2009, 06:08:28 AM
Quote from: Styerman on March 02, 2009, 07:28:44 PM
Looks good , also very usefull for correcting your significant other .

Chris

My wife would just yell at me and tell me Im doing it wrong.

Your biggest worry is when she says "harder harder" or tells you that you hit like a girl !

Chris

...or, your brother hits harder than you

jzmtl · **Reply #20 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:46:30 PM

Just made one from block of oak and thick leather that I got from a local leather shop, glue is drying under weight, I'll see how well it works tomorrow. This one is 2.5"x12", still have enough leather to make three or four more.

Poncho65 · **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2009, 11:19:57 PM

Quote from: jzmtl on March 03, 2009, 10:46:30 PM

Just made one from block of oak and thick leather that I got from a local leather shop, glue is drying under weight, I'll see how well it works tomorrow. This one is 2.5"x12", still have enough leather to make three or four more.

Tell us the end results jzmtl

Mike · **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2009, 12:48:56 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on March 03, 2009, 10:46:30 PM

Just made one from block of oak and thick leather that I got from a local leather shop, glue is drying under weight, I'll see how well it works tomorrow. This one is 2.5"x12", still have enough leather to make three or four more.

Yep, that's where I got the leather for mine too, a local leather shop.

Mike

jzmtl · **Reply #23 on:** March 04, 2009, 04:11:29 AM

Well I loaded it up with polishing compound and tried it on my freshly sharpened tenacious. I can definitely tell strop made it sharper when testing on thin paper. Although I think I'm getting the angle wrong and makes the edge more obtuse than original sharpening angle, Guess I need more practice.

Oh anyone know which is finer, jeweler's rouge or green polishing compound? I tried both but couldn't tell from scratch pattern.

Anthony · **Reply #24 on:** March 04, 2009, 04:23:17 AM

You got to come in really shallow and use almost no pressure. I also have a small peice of jasper that I "wipe" the blade across after stropping.

jzmtl · **Reply #25 on:** March 04, 2009, 04:42:45 AM

Hmm, no pressure eh? That may be my problem.

max6166 · **Reply #26 on:** March 04, 2009, 04:44:49 AM

I think there are some good stropping videos on YouTube which demonstrate the technique.

Benner · **Reply #27 on:** March 04, 2009, 11:57:16 AM

It's hard to imagine an edge that can be even sharper than a Sharpmaker.

Hopefully one of the guys at the UK meet can demonstrate for me.

jzmtl · **Reply #28 on:** March 05, 2009, 08:18:42 AM

Okay I did some more testing, the improvement isn't as big as I thought. With side by side comparison there just isn't significant amount of gain to warrant the effort.

Poncho65 · **Reply #29 on:** March 06, 2009, 05:00:31 AM

but the strop is good for touching up an edge after you have sharpened and the edge has just dulled a little

a few hits on it and it's back to shaving sharp again

Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.

Sharpening A Knife With A Leather Strop: Great For SAK's!!!

Donations

Community Links