You can do this on a clean towel or similar. I would like to know if people use the rough - split - side rather than the smooth - grain - side when stropping. Now I use the strops I made and keep the chisels in tip-top shape in addition to my knives. Yes you can use a clean straight grain wood I have used a 4x9x3/4 piece of beech for a few years, I started using a leather strop rough side up, as Paul teaches after buying the Diomond plates. I just gave the whole thing a try. My gouge has a nice mirror shine now. I recently saw someone using the smooth side and when I was a lot younger I shined shoes in a barber shop and I remember the barber's razor strop was always smooth. If they have not been maintained, a visit with the local leatherworker or boot maker/repair shop may be required to restore the leather. Is it designed to hang on a hook like a barbers strop. Prices can vary wildly, from about $50, all the way up to north of $500. One side is made of leather and reverse strop is made of woven polypropylene to dry and polish your razor. YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. ive got two i made from an old work belt, basically use the shiny side for both because by trial and error i prefered the shiny over the rough and the rough seemed to loose allot of leather to the abrasion of stropping. Well there you go Eddie, I have no doubt that Paul bases his stropping decisions on years of practice & experience..but so do I. It also helps to remove any extra bits of metal that cant be realigned. This can be done with either clamps or adhesive tape. A leather strop is a device that is used to sharpen and polish tools, knives, and other items made of metal. My strops are always 3 wide, 3/4 thick and 10 long. They are the iceing on the cake. / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Tools and Tool Maintenance/Restoration / Leather strop: which side up? Smoother is better. With the right strop and skilled technique, knife owners will keep their knives sharp and always ready to use. I would imagine that if you're using the strop like a barber, just pulling the leather tight between two points, then it would be sort of the reverse, where the thinner leather would give more and the thicker would give less. Choose a piece of each weight of leather (scrap works fine) that is at least as long as the stirring portion of your stir stick. You don't need the canvas, IMO. They are also amazing with pastes. Wet the leather on both sides in the sink, just for a few seconds, then let it dry for an hour or two. The bar/stick-type compounds fit that category, and sometimes they don't apply evenly to smooth leather and/or don't stick well to it. The paddle strop is simply a piece of leather that is glued to a thicker piece of wood that has a handle on one end to hold. What leather is being used, what kind of leather it is and what animal it is from. They can be found online with just a single pad of leather attached to one side, however, the more common is the double-sided variation. Stropping is the last but not the least important step in the sharpening process of any blade. Guys, since some strops are sold with or without a canvas side what is the canvas side of the strop for and do you really need it? Nothing more. Medium Universal Green. ) The answer is yes, in a pinch, you can use a working belt (that you actually wear) to strop a knife; you just need to clean it first to make sure that there isnt any kind of debris just as fabric fluff from your jeans or anything else caught on the belt that might prevent the knife from making a smooth connection with . Step 4. Oil Tanned Leather begins as a chrome tan and then goes through an additional process to make it more supple. If you want to go a bit more advanced, get a 2X2 piece of oak and glue the horse hide to 3 sides, then treat with 6 micron, 3 micron and 1 micron cbn. The hair side is generally considered the better side to use for stropping, because it's more durable and will produce a finer edge. Apply sewing machine oil or honing oil on the flesh-side leather, and then, rub the Jewelers Rouge evenly. If you try to use it on something else, you may damage the strop or the object that you are trying to sharpen. They can be fitted to a rigid foundation, such as the wooden paddle leather strop compound and linen razor strop, or can be flexible. Leather straps are not recommended for sharpening straight razors. Unit - I agree with you. Before this I used oil stones 300, 800, 1200 and a white Arkansas. The nap of the suede holds onto the compound well allowing the strop to be loaded easily. However, for me personally, I've had the most success with the smooth side, mounted to a firm backing, and use only diamond pastes. However, it would be best if you were careful not to damage or scratch the blade when doing so. Just a little plug for DMT. WebA strop can be any piece of leather veg tan is used most often. This smoother leather provides a softer surface for stropping. A stropping compound is an abrasive wax applied to the stropping leather surface. But I doubt that you will notice much difference. One side of the leather strop is smooth, while the other has a rough surface. I find that, for woodworking tools, the flesh (rough) side up is much quicker when going directly from the stones. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Next, use long strokes to run the blade along this surface until you have achieved the desired sharpness. Straight razors are best stropped with side of leather of the strop, and carving knives and large blades are better stropped with the suede side. For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums. The answer is that straight razors are typically stropped on the smooth side of the leather, while knives and larger blades are usually stropped with the suede side to round the bevel of the blade. Stropping the edge of a straight razor, kitchen knife, hunting knife, woodworking chisel, or other crafting tool(s), is an exercise in geometry, metallurgy, hand-eye coordination, and a lesson in controlling both pressure and speed inorder to achieve the best possible outcome of the sharpening process. HANGING KANGAROO LEATHER KNIFE STROP DUAL TWO TYPES TAIL ONE SIDE SKIN THE The main difference between honing and stropping is that honing is the process of smoothing out the blade surface after it has been polished and sharpened while stropping is the process of removing residual microscopic nicks and irregularities. You must log in or register to reply here. I don't think it's the strop, or leather, but the compound/technique that is holding me back. As a sharpener, why would the type of leather matter you strop a blade with? In South Jersey the good part of New Jersey, USA. WebAn ultra convenient cam brake on the right hand side of the machine allows the user to lock the handle in place for using both hands to pull the leather through. Using a compound (also known as a loaded strop) is an efficient way to polish the freshly sharpened knife. The grain side surface is perfect for the delicate, low angle edges found on straight razors. Straight razors are traditionally stropped on smooth leather. What Is ChatGPT? WebThe outside edge Use the flat leather side of the strop. The only valid reason I can see for the canvas side it to strop after the shave to remove any traced of moisture from the edge. You are using an out of date browser. Another way to tell which side of the leather to use is by feel. Can you use toothpaste as a stropping compound? Getting the absolutely best shave depends on having the most finely honed blade. Unit, you just made my head hurt a little.but good info. Each compound, paste or spray has a different grit and will remove metal at a different rate from the blade. Leather Goods Luggage (830) 833-5161. G Gossman Knives Edged Toolmaker Joined Apr 9, 2004 Messages 9,392 Sep 13, 2004 #2 Smooth side works for We recommend this tool for any knife user looking for a hassle-free, budget-friendly, and accurate way to maintain an edge without going full dive into sharpening stones. Rub the blade on the grain-side leather for finishing. #2. No messy oil needed. It is affordable in terms of price as well. There are razor strops that come with high quality leather on one side and heavy linen on the other side. The opposite side of the board has the smooth side glued down so that a stropping compound can be rubbed into the nap of the fuzzy side. Feb 5, 2016. JavaScript is disabled. But, yes, you can roughen up the shiny side with sandpaper to get a better grip with the paste. Its the polishing of an edge with an abrasive thats about 1 micron in size. It is what makes the smooth side of a high-grade veg tan leather strop without stropping compound on it, the best natural abrasive for the final step of sharpening the sharpest of blades. DM. If he glued the leather to the block flesh side down that would never happen. Recently, some have begun to make wider 3 inch (76mm) strops. Here are my thoughts from someone with very limited experience with strops. We often get the question whether you should purchase a suede or smooth-sided strop. This will help keep it in good condition for longer. This feature is normally found on leather splitters costing much more money. WebAn ultra convenient cam brake on the right hand side of the machine allows the user to lock the handle in place for using both hands to pull the leather through. Then, hold the straight razor against the horizontal side of the strop with its blade facing outwards. Stropping your blade after sharpening it will prolong the life of your blade. While an axe needs to be sharp to chop wood, Its cutting edge is ground at a different angle and the axe head itself is made of a different steel than that of a chefs knife. What is the difference between honing and stropping? Make sure that you are marking from the top of the leather (the side that will be facing up once you are finished skiving). Attach one side with the rough side up and the other with the smooth side up. Leather Rivets Guide to Size, Material, Slection, and Use, Leather Strips Options, Thicknesses, and How To Use Them. Typically, this is enhanced with the use of honing compounds or diamond sprays. Cheap Harbor Freight green compound on a hardwood backing. They need to reduce what they charge drastically to reflect the terrible job they do. If you think about it, most of the work is being done by the compound and not strop(unless bare) so it doesn't matter much. YP advertisers receive higher placement in the default ordering of search results and may appear in sponsored listings on the top, side, or bottom of the search results page. Good luck, stay sharp. I glued it smooth side up. I used the paste on a piece of glass to sharpen them. Just beneath the hide is the finest leather grain (nubuck?) Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. Woodworking Masterclasses is a trading name of Rokesmith Ltd, About Rokesmith Ltd | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | About Us, Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 21 total), https://paulsellers.com/2013/02/on-strops-and-more/, This topic has 20 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated. Many people are unsure of which side of the leather strop should be used to polish the blade. From everything I've read, canvas isn't necessary. It does matter espically if your stropping after coarse sharpening. Place The Straight Razor Blade Correctly. What do you guys do? Diamond spray/paste, which is common among many knife makers and straight razor enthusiasts, is available in grits from 15,000 to 160,000. i keep one charged with a red rouge and the other with a more abrasive compound made for stainless and other metals. The secret of veg tan leathers natural ability to maintain the edge of a blade is that the leather retains the majority of its microscopic silicates during the tanning process. Real Leather vs Genuine Leather: Clear Up the Misunderstanding. Included in the horse butt leather strop kit is a strop compound, which helps hone your blades much faster The strops do work very well though. For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums. Oct 7, 2010. This guide will teach you how to skive leather using a sharp knife and some common sense! This will help keep it lubricated and prevent it from drying out. And there's the option of lapping films as well. Like others have said, it depends. WebPepper Jackson Leather Company. Preferred listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. Because your minute edge is easily damaged (even by something as small as a facial hair), the blade must be realigned to give you the best shave. This will remove any burrs or nicks that may have formed due to the sharpening process. smooth side When stropping a straight razor, the smooth side of the leather strop is most effective, and the suede is Stropping does not sharpen the blade, but it does refine it by bending the little teeth back into alignment. Only when a stropping compound, diamond spray or paste is applied, does a strop actually sharpen. Sometimes, you will find that non-leather side used with different pastes for sharpening or polishing. The Red Paste from Herold Solingen is their medium grit stropping paste. A linen or other material side is used first, to clean the blade as much as possible from oxidation, dirt, or oils before you bring it to the leather side of the strop. Push the blade into the leather and drag it away from you. david SMITH | 03 June 2017 05:26 Be careful not to damage anything when using it for its intended purpose. After a shave i use the canvas side, i have noticed a differance sinse i have been doing this. The best surface for stropping is leather. I've tried other combinations, but for me, this just seems to work the best for a variety of conditions. This applies to stropping belts, straps and stropping paddles. WebAlthough other materials are used, strops are most often made of leather. JavaScript is disabled. Once you get to the end of the strop, lift the blade back up. They will all work to maintain your edge. Related Video: How To Sharpen A Knife Using a Leather Strop, How to Style Leather Joggers: Simple Guide, Bovine Leather: Everything You Should Know, Easy Ways to Keep Leather Seats from Cracking. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); ABOUT CONTACT TERMS PRIVACY EDITORIAL POLICY AFFILIATE INFO INSTAGRAM PINTEREST FACEBOOK 215-839-9222 PO BOX 4696, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19127 2023 Liberty Leather Goods, Leather Cutting Tools What to Use and When for Results, Leather Edge Beveler Making Leather Goods Look Great, Leather Splitter A Valuable Tool for Consistent Results, Round Knife What to Look for in This Leather Cutting Classic, Leather Knife and Cutting Tools How to Choose Wisely, Leather Punch Making Holes the Clean and Easy Way, Leather Hole Punch Choosing and Using the Right Types, Leather Die Cutter Types and Materials for Great Results, Skiving Knife Types and Options For This Everyday Tool, Leather Skiver The Fun Tool for Thinning Out Leather, Choosing the Right Leather Scissors for Each Project, Swivel Knife The Right Types and Blades for Accurate Crafting. A strop is used as the final step in preparing a blade for use after it has been sharpened. The hanging strop has been featured in countless Hollywood movies and are sometimes found as an interior design element when a rustic look is desired. If the finish is too hard or smooth, I use abrasive paper to give a little tooth to the surface. This worked well but took a long time, I had tried water stones, they where a mess and the flatting thing was more mess and work. just use the weight of the knife and light pressure, just riding on top of the leather. The main reason that the rough, or suede side is preferred by many users is that by virtue of its irregular surface, it retains the charge of buffing paste better. The only valid reason I can see for the canvas side it to strop after the shave to remove any traced of moisture from the edge. It is the microscopic material that remains and curls up along the new edge. 1213 Main St. Blanco, TX 78606. I'll need several months before I have a real firm opinion on the matter. I even gave them an example to use off of for. When stropping a straight razor, the smooth side of the leather stropis most effective, and the suede is best for larger blades such as a carving knife. . Some razor sharpeners prefer to strop with the linen side first because it cleans the razor blade before the final strop with the leather, further refining the sharpness of the blade. ANGERSTONE Double Side Leather Strop for Knife Sharpening - 14"X 2" Stropping Bl. Because that would be a waste. WebFenteer Leather Strop Set,Leather Sharpening Board,DIY Craft,Buffing Compound for Polish,Honing: Manual Knife Sharpeners: Amazon.com.au They each have a different natural grit to their hides. Great information! Personally I have made strops with both configurations. This offers the most portability and versatility to hone/polish virtually any cutting edge to the largest group of users. Start small only use a little bit to start and let it absorb completely. Compound will still remove small bits of metal- bare leather will simply straighten the metal out. If the finish is too hard or smooth, I use abrasive paper to give a little tooth to the surface. Both suede and smooth leathers, technically known as flesh side and grain side, are used. Its all in the hide here. YP, the YP logo and all other YP marks contained herein are trademarks of YP LLC and/or YP affiliated companies. Stropping regularly will keep the razor nice and sharp and prevent cuts when shaving. I opted for a Hand American strop, and that embossed leather component seems to be a very good substitute upon earliest evaluation. You can use the suede side on any tool or knife; you can use the smooth side on any tool or knife.