bazzab Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 To follow on from Elvisthepelvis question on knife sharpeners.... I use a lansky sharpening system. Get good results with it. I've never used a strop. Can I ask, how many use strops? How effective they find them? What they use and how? A bit concerned as I'm Usless with open stones as never get the angle right!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjjack Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) I use wet stones on my scandi grinds as there is a larger surface to keep flat to the stop and thus ensures that you get the correct angle, don't strop them as I have a 1600 grti stone that almost gets a mirror finish and "scary" sharpe edge (do have to have patience though as it does take time from a really dull edge) On my blades with secondary bevels I use a multitude of sharpener (lansky, diamond steel, dimond hone/file) and then I use a strop that I picked up from a country show, its a 10mm square by 100mm long block of wood with a piece of leather stuch to one side. I have oiled this leather and put some very fine polishing compound on it... Razor sharp penknives where ever I am Edited February 16, 2016 by jeffjjack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 That's the best time to have a strop, when you can't get it right. Gets rid of all your frustration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzab Posted February 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 I use wet stones on my scandi grinds as there is a larger surface to keep flat to the stop and thus ensures that you get the correct angle, don't strop them as I have a 1600 grti stone that almost gets a mirror finish and "scary" sharpe edge (do have to have patience though as it does take time from a really dull edge) On my blades with secondary bevels I use a multitude of sharpener (lansky, diamond steel, dimond hone/file) and then I use a strop that I picked up from a country show, its a 10mm square by 100mm long block of wood with a piece of leather stuch to one side. I have oiled this leather and put some very fine polishing compound on it... Razor sharp penknives where ever I am I have some leather left over from knife making. I assume it's the shiney side as opposed to rough side need to use? Any alternatives to the compound stuff? I have G3 car compound!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjjack Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Yeah the shiny side, the compound is not necessary as such, the action of stropping removes the micro burrs from the blade after the sharpening. As you strop one side and then the other the burrs are "pushed" one side then the other unitl they are removed leaving a (micro) convex edge. I find the compound just makes the process a bit quicker...my knives are sharpe and would pass the paper test... not quite shave sharp but I don't need a knife to shave with I have an electric trimmer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Either side, Opinions vary. I have two commercial strops, one uses the rough and the other the smooth. Solvol Autosol is good as your compound. If you want to save a lot of money, just strop using a news paper. It really works, look on YouTube. Apparently, it contains micro abrasive particles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 It's the rough side you use. As for paste I use this as I got some when I bought their grinding system. http://www.axminster.co.uk/tormek-pa-70-honing-paste-910077 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjjack Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 PM your address and I'll send you a bit of compound for your purposes You'll be shaving in no time!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjjack Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) There is a you tube clip of a bloke who sharpens a really blunt knife with only a concrete block and some cardboard After a considerable amount of time he shaves with the knife! and my bought strop is the shiny side so opinions are going to differ Edited February 16, 2016 by jeffjjack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Or wind down your car window and run it lightly on top of the glass edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 I use my palm as as strop on many blades but have had a bit of practice of 30 years! Get some off cuts of leather and make a long thin board up from plywood about a foot long and 2.5 inches wide. Make one end of the ply into a nice handle shape. Glue the leather rough side out onto the ply with contact adhesive. Use polishing compound on ONE SIDE ONLY and keep the other side of the board/leather as just leather for the final strokes. Make a hole in the handle end to you hang this stop up to keep it nice and it will last you a lifetime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggsy Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Always sharpen our carving knife on the back step,before Sunday roast,glides through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Or wind down your car window and run it lightly on top of the glass edge.Or the bottom of a ceramic cup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Grinding, sharpening, steeling (with steel/glass/ceramic/diamond/tungston carbide etc), honing and stropping are all different...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzab Posted February 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Wow what a fantastic response thank you all. I'll give it a bash I think then. Have a good old nose on YouTube but, no idea why!!!, trust you lot more. Jeffjack that's amazing. PM inbound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) Bottom of a late will give you an edge. Personally prefer diamond stones with water in medium and fine. I can resharpen stanly knife blades to as sharp or sharper than new. That's more than sharp enough for me. Chinese water stone will get you a silly sharp edge. Stropping on leather will get it sharp but will round the edge to a curve as the leather is soft and will give as the blade is pulled over it. Have a look at a cut throat open blade razor and you will see the shape stropping gets. Edited February 16, 2016 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 I make strops. Use BOTH sides of the leather on them....so one side smooth & one side "rough" Mine are "saddler type" = like a flat 2 foot long cricket bat Add jewellers rouge & away you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 I make strops. Use BOTH sides of the leather on them....so one side smooth & one side "rough" Mine are "saddler type" = like a flat 2 foot long cricket bat Add jewellers rouge & away you go. Do you sell them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted February 16, 2016 Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Do you sell them? PM sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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