I survived well enough. 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. With the right strop and skilled technique, knife owners will keep their knives sharp and always ready to use. They are generally made from vegetable tanned leather with a few popular makers offering an oil tanned leather option. The suede side is also a good option if you choose to use a compound to fine tune the stropping process. No, it would help if you did not strop on any old piece of leather. If the finish is too hard or smooth, I use abrasive paper to give a little tooth to the surface. They bring together crafters, creators, professionals, hobbyists, knife makers, woodworkers, leathercrafters, barbers and more. Leather strops come in a variety of styles and colors. Only when a stropping compound, diamond spray or paste is applied, does a strop actually sharpen. so if you remove the thin hide you can use the surface under it. I usually use the rougher textured side for general strop work, but for ultra fine stropping of say 25,000 I use the smooth side. Width Typically, most strops are I really do think the canvas helps prolong the edges much, much longer than stropping on canvas alone. Well there you go Eddie, I have no doubt that Paul bases his stropping decisions on years of practice & experience..but so do I. Let the compound do the work. So we prefer cereal box cardboard (put the compound on the inner side) put the Is it stretched on an adjustable frame (loom)? Before this I used oil stones 300, 800, 1200 and a white Arkansas. Stropping will help refine the edge and realign the micro teeth. Generally speaking, knife makers and straight razor enthusiasts prefer the smooth, top grain side of leather. WebFor a proper edge beveler strop, you need for the leather to be somewhat rounded. Probably the most iconic and recognizable type of strop ever invented. Its all in the hide here. By accessing Badger & Blade, you agree to abide by the Terms of Usage. Lets take a more in depth look at the stropping process and why the type of leather used is so important. WebLeather strop compounds come in four colors mainly: black, white, red, and green. I don't think Spyderco makes any stropping products. Veg Tan Easily the most popular of the two, is named for the plant and tree tannin extracts used to cure or tan the animal hide. This feature is normally found on leather splitters costing much more money. To strop your razor to refine the sharpness of its blade, take the following steps: Do not put too much pressure on the blade, or you will cut the strop. The reason Paul uses the rough side, as mentioned by Greg above, is because he doesnt use a strop in the conventional sense and so requires lots of compound and the dampening effect. Thank you all for a lot of good information. :confused: I think the best side for me is the smooth side charged with abrasive. 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. The best surface for stropping is leather. Sharpening a blade is all a lead up to the strop. Attach one side with the rough side up and the other with the smooth side up. While other materials are used, leather strops are usually made. If you love the piece but it needs to be updated, take it to VMC. If you try to use it on something else, you may damage the strop or the object that you are trying to sharpen. Which side of leather strop do you use? 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? Sometimes, you will find that non-leather side used with different pastes for sharpening or polishing. What can be used as a stropping compound? Real Leather vs Genuine Leather: Clear Up the Misunderstanding. It took longer, the object is to get tools sharp not sharpen. It may not display this or other websites correctly. / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Tools and Tool Maintenance/Restoration / Leather strop: which side up? WebThe outside edge Use the flat leather side of the strop. It also decreases the chance of cutting yourself. ive had luck with using old leather belts with no compound, i think just breaking off the bur from an edge sometimes is all thats needed to get a great edge. i use the smooth side, i put jewelers rouge on it. However same rounding compare to strop on skin/smooth side of leather + AlO. Whether. We, Their costs do no reflect the work that they do. A strops usual purpose is to realign a sharp edge, similar to steeling, not for actual sharpening. My barber strop has coarse and smooth elements. When stropping a straight razor, the smooth side of the leather strop is most effective, and the suede is best for larger blades such as a carving knife. Wood Balsa, Bass and Maple are commonly mentioned. From Business: The largest fur manufacturer in Texas, Morris Kaye and Sons has been the premier name in wholesale furs since 1935. To use one, you should attach it to the end of your countertop or another sturdy surface using adhesive tape. Morris Kaye & Sons. No, you dont need it, depending on how sharp you get your knife before moving to a strop. 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. Deer, horse, cow, buffalo, kangaroo, bull, etc. 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. #20. They can be fitted to a rigid foundation, such as the wooden paddle leather strop compound and linen razor strop, or can be flexible. 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. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. It also helps to remove any extra bits of metal that cant be realigned. Just as deciding what tool is right for the task at hand, deciding what surface to hone a cutting blade on depends on what it is and how it will be used. You don't need the canvas, IMO. I'll need several months before I have a real firm opinion on the matter. How do you apply buffing compound to leather? You can do this on a clean towel or similar. Personally I have made strops with both configurations. A strop is a narrow strip of leather used to restore the cutting edge of a knife or crafting tool. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Leather Cleaning in Bastrop, TX. I use veeery thin, veg tanned leather with the nap side up. Oil Tanned Leather begins as a chrome tan and then goes through an additional process to make it more supple. Other good options include mink oil, Williams Shaving Soap, and leather conditioner. Typically its rough side up for a strop. Many things have been used as strops. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. G Gossman Knives Edged Toolmaker Joined Apr 9, 2004 Messages 9,392 Sep 13, 2004 #2 Smooth side works for Newspapers and magazines have been used in a pinch as well as denim, cotton and felt fabrics. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Rough grit or fine micro abrasions? 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. WebThe fuzzier side of the leather is preferred by many crafters including woodworkers and leathercrafters for its ability to hold stropping compound. @dave do you find the smoothing compound sticks well to the smooth side, i used the smooth side first and i felt the iron was just slipping on the smooth surface, i think ill set up another smooth one and compare the two now im used to using the rough side . I got a piece of leather I'm going to use for a strop without any compound. Next, use long strokes to run the blade along this surface until you have achieved the desired sharpness. It will provide your small and mid-range knives a razor-sharp edge. Can I use a Leather Strop on my Straight Razor? Stropping the blade regardless of what it is, is done to maintain that crisp, razor sharp edge. Do you need paste for a strop? The rough side of the leather does a great job Give eNews login. Hold the knife or other metal object against the leather strop so that the blade is facing down. Lets take a look at the key factors to consider when looking for a really effective strop. This feature is normally found on leather splitters costing much more money. 1,091. A typical leather strop can be purchased in many stores for less than $50. The resulting edge is more than fine enough for any work that I am doing. This is done by running the blade over a smooth, porous surface. Using it in this sense also means you push the most of the grit within the leather and leave the largest grits exposed, leaving you with a finish that is usually fouled with scratches. I have very limited strop experience/expertise, but from what I've seen, the rough side can load up more compound than the smooth side. What is the difference between green and white stropping compound? If youre using adhesive tape, make sure that it is firmly attached and will not come loose during use. While it is the best option, Leather is not the only option. Smooth out any rough edges with a metal file to ensure that your skive is symmetrical and smooth. WebHandmade Four Side Leather Strop CowboyStrops $36.00 Straight Razor Sharpener Barber's Razor Strop 4 Sided Sharp Edge Leather Strop With Pure Wooden Handles TheBodyTools (906) $23.89 $26.55 (10% off) Leather strop straight razor strop for sharpening AgrarianCrafts (113) $45.00 FREE shipping Leather strop SteadcraftLLC Strops and the act of stropping are interesting subjects. Some sharpeners prefer the reinforced finish that results from a combination of suede and compound. 6.6ft. This inevitably ends up in an edge which is rounded. As far as the thickness, if you're mounting it to a hard backing, then thinner leather will deform less and be a "harder" strop, and thicker leather will give more and be a "softer" strop. I usually use two strops, one with green compound and then one thats plain leather that I finish with. I used to use rubber cement or plastic laminate cement and this works well, but I found that double-sided mounting tape works just as well and double-sided carpet tape all the better., Per Pauls blog post: https://paulsellers.com/2013/02/on-strops-and-more/. You can find our Privacy Policy here. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for HANGING KANGAROO LEATHER KNIFE STROP DUAL TYPES TAIL ONE SIDE SKIN THE OTHER at the best online prices at eBay! First, always draw the blade away from the cutting edge to avoid digging into the leather, which is sometimes called a trailing stroke. Free shipping for many products! WebV-tools are single-beveled tools with the beveled cutting edge on the back side. I generally use buffing compound available from Lee Valley Veritas and here is the link. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as this can damage the strop. I would like to know if people use the rough - split - side rather than the smooth - grain - side when stropping. JavaScript is disabled. They helped me find the leather coat I was looking for. Typically, most strops are about 2- inches (50-63mm) wide. No messy oil needed. A leather honing strop is used to hone a straight razor. DURABLE BRASS HARDWARE: made with durable screw hardware - genuine brass screws will allow easy replacement of both: leather and canvas strop. I've been straight shaving for about six months and i don't use a canvas strop. Web HIGH QUALITY: our razor strops are made out of latigo leather. Most craftsmen who strop really sharp fine blades like razors and scalpels use the grain side, in my experience. i keep one charged with a red rouge and the other with a more abrasive compound made for stainless and other metals. I have a fixed sharpening station its a small table with two Drews. A strop should be just wide enough to cover the entire length of the blade being honed/sharpened. From Business: Sparkling Dazzles is a jewelry business that makes personalized, custom jewelry for any occasion! I like Pauls system its faster, cleaner and for me with my messed up hands the most repeatable, I often use a simple jig because my hands cant close enough to hold a lot of tools. A strop in its most basic form is a flat surface capable of holding a stropping compound. Use sandpaper and finish with a stiff wire brush to get rid of any grit. You can start using a strop right after you get it. 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. 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. From Business: Family Owned And Operated For More Than 30 Years A full service leather & upholstery company ready to provide you with the best quality service in Austin, TX! There are various elements to consider when determining which type of leather strop will be most beneficial for ones working style, and types of blades being sharpened. Then flip over to the smooth side (without any rouge) and do your final stropping on that. / 2m paracord wraps around the open-frame handle for comfortable grip and can be removed and used for a variety of survival tasks if needed. But that's just my opinion after having spent an obscene amount of time experimenting and thinking about this straight razor stuff. I just found out on this forum where to get pieces of leather (untreated) and am going to get some. As the blade passes down the compressed strop the leather rises as the compressed blade passes. Second, it is paramount to hold the knife at the exact bevel angle it was made, and keep this angle consistant throughout the stroke. The grain side surface is perfect for the delicate, low angle edges found on straight razors. Place The Straight Razor Blade Correctly. In this way, the focus is on removing the imperfections of the cut and avoiding the risk of cutting your strop in half at the same time. Smoother is better. About this item The coarse element is a linen strop which is joined to a smooth leather strop at the hanging end (a snap swivel). One caveat, if the knife is too dull or very thick, a bare leather strop is not very effective; in such case, sharpen it on stones instead. This is an excellent way to polish out the wire and fine-hone the edge at the same time. $31.99. I can let a ZDP-189 edge get just a little dull and the 1 micron strop will put a hair popping edge back on it. The fine side works better after finer grit sharpening. Having some helpful knowledge can be beneficial for the stropping process. Customer's credit card details or bank details are stored on the secure servers of stripe.com or gocardless.com This entire site is secured by SSL. Loom and paddle strops have a shorter, flat surface to work with compared to hanging strops; these tend to be the most commonly used. What is It is more expensive than most but they do a great job on the clothes. One side of the leather strop is smooth, while the other has a rough surface. Be sure to dry it thoroughly before using it again. 2,809. Unlike sharpening, you move your knife in the direction of the back of the knife. I strop with canvas after shaving in order to heat the blade to help ensure that there is absolutely no moisture remaining on the cutting edge of my blade. Its the polishing of an edge with an abrasive thats about 1 micron in size. There are some woodworking tools and chisels that get better results from using the smooth side of the leather strop. The soft surface of the suede compresses under the blade to help round the bevel of the blade. So, its grain side up for me. JavaScript is disabled. That way, when they flex as youre stropping an edge, they wont roll over the edge and dull it. A skive is a thin piece of leather that is cut from the edge of a thicker piece. I generally use buffing compound available from Lee Valley Veritas and here is the link. A leather belt is a great option for a strop. I love all the diamond sharpening products I've bought from them. Compound will still remove small bits of metal- bare leather will simply straighten the metal out. DIMENSIONS: stropping area is 3 Inches wide by 20 inches in length. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The tool is then pulled away from the edge to avoid digging into the strop. For stropping without compound, oil tan leather is still a popular option among both enthusiasts and professionals. Many carvers and knife sharpeners use suede strops. For this reason, a smooth side is usually used for Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. Pushing the blade into the leather can round your cutting edge. So far I have survived quite happily without it. What Is ChatGPT? The simple answer is that either one will work just fine. For diamond/cbn/sic compound, I use skin/smooth side of leather. There are razor strops that come with high quality leather on one side and heavy linen on the other side. If you would like, you can store your leather strop in a cool, dry place when not in use. WebFenteer Leather Strop Set,Leather Sharpening Board,DIY Craft,Buffing Compound for Polish,Honing: Manual Knife Sharpeners: Amazon.com.au From Business: Milburn Upholster Provides Furniture Repair, Commercial Upholstery, and Residential Upholstery Services to the San Antonio, TX Area. This could include various types of wood or cardboard, paper or fabric, leather, etc. WebWhich side of leather strop do you use? Strops come in a lot of different leather types' cowhide, horsehide, horse shell, kangaroo, bison, pigskin, etc. Stropping your blade after sharpening it will prolong the life of your blade. It would help if you used the rough side to sharpen your knife I love strops. This combination works very well for getting my knives very sharp. Be careful not to damage anything when using it for its intended purpose. What we have learned over the course of a couple hundred years of stropping is that the final step using the top grain of veg tan or oil tan leather without any compound on it offers the finest hone/polish to only the very sharpest of blades. The smooth side is going to give you a gently polished edge thanks to the very soft leather surface. 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. To review, the side of the strop you use will depend on the type of blade that you are sharpening. Use a back and forth motion to sharpen the blade. Do you use the smooth or rough side of a strop? Stropping is the final treatment to a sharpened edge and the strop surface should be as smooth and flat as possible, primed with a fine abrasive. They need to reduce what they charge drastically to reflect the terrible job they do. I need something besides smooth leather alone. Unit, you just made my head hurt a little.but good info. Any surface that will hold a stropping compound and provide a flat surface to hone a blade on should work. I've watched several Youtube videos on how to use leather strops, and now I don't know which is THE better side of the leather to use: I use the rough side for charging with compound or etc, and the smooth side without any additions when I'm just trying to realign the edge. So, buying a dedicated strop is purely optional. Pros: Affordable in terms of price. 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. Science and chemistry have given us a wide range of products to choose from. Polish the blade on it. No messy oil needed. WebDo you use both sides of a strop? Step 3. For using with white compound (AlO), I use the flesh/nap/rough side of horse butt leather. Getting the absolutely best shave depends on having the most finely honed blade.