question on stropping. please help

[sven]

hey guys (and gals). i stropped the edge on my CS X2 voyager and was amazesd with teh resulst. now, i want to find out where to get a good strop. i think i once heard VW say something about a stropping compound. what is this? how does it work? i know how a strop works but this stroppin compound stuff is new to me. any help/info would be greatly appreciated. thanks a ton





grace and peace

sven



steel is unforgiving... sharp steel even more so

[yog]

Hi Sven.
A stropping compound is a very fine abrasive that is applied to the strop. It is usually so fine that the most noticable effect is that it puts a polished edge on the knife.
You can get treated leather that has a certain amount of compound ingrained, but on plain leather you will need to add some compound yourself.

For strops and compounds I can't recommend http://www.handamerican.com/ enough. They have great products and offer great service.
Have a look at their Pro Combo Leather Hones, a complete stropping kit, also thier Honing Leather is top notch, thier best stropping compound is thier Pure Chromium Oxide, can be a bit messy (you need less than you think) but is very good.


Walk softly, carry a big stick.

[Sword and Shield]

Any good barbershop supply house will have strops, and the compound needed to load them. Strops typically run around $30, and compound is usually around $10 per block.

By the time you read this, you'll have already read it.

[4 s ter]

The strop I use (and VW too I think) is from Lee Valley Tools. It's a double sided strop with the leather glued to a wooden board with a handle. I use Veritas Green(chromium oxide) Honing Compound - also available from Lee Valley Tools. The main advantage of the strop, I find, is in the removal of the wire edge or burr. You can polish the edge - if you have enough time and patience <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

David

"Not all who wander are lost"

[vampyrewolf]

I use both Veritas Green (0.5 micron), and a white/grey stuff from my local B&M(2.0 micron). My green is from Lee Valley Tools.

My Word, My Honour, is my Life.

[dialex]

I remember someone mentioning that the only strope he used for his knives was on his jeans <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

<a href="http://users.pcnet.ro/dialex"><font color=blue>(my page)</font></a>

[pyton357ru]

I strop all my knives on simple leather belt, threatened to wood hardness in the middle with my sweat. Works fine.

[swede]

Sounds complicated. How do you threaten leather with your sweat?

Dave

[wire edge]

The best strops are the ones with the tightest grained leather like the Cordovan leather, these will give the finest finish.

Also,if you finish your blade with an ultra fine stone you will find that you do not want any stropping compound on the strop as this will actually dull the knife.

If you finish with a fine grit (600) then stropping compound has its uses.

I find it easier to finish my knives up on an ultra fine stone then just strop on bare leather.

[J Smith]

I strop mine on my jeans,works very well.Also cardboard works.

I learn something new everyday,even though I don't want to. Jeff

[pyton357ru]

to Swede
Just wear it. A season of daily wear can do amaising things, if the weather is hot.