Stropping question..

I bought a paddle strop and some green compound..
What is the best way to apply the compound to the leather before stropping?

Did I even get the right compound?

i think most ppl heat the leather and apply the compound...i know my strop said the leather it came with was such a leather that you did not have to heat the leather. i remember pink saying something about heating the leather....honestly though i dont know <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

the compound looks correct though!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

The compound is kind of waxy, you rub it on like a crayon, and then a little heat can help drive it into the leather. A candle or hair dryer should do the trick. Heat it up then give it a couple of strokes with a knife blade like you're buttering toast, to drive it down into the leather. I prefer to use a cheap knife for this so I don't muck up a sharp edge <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I just rubbed it on, I didn't know you had to heat it up once its on the leather.

what MM said sounds close to what i heard....i didnt heat mine though...i apply then take the back of a mora to take down any bumps of collected compound...

All I do is rub a little on and strop. It works fine for me that way. When the leather gets a dark glazed look from steel, I just take a scotchbrite bad and rough it up a bit, and strop some more. My knives stay nice and sharp that way.

Yeah, I gave the "official" way of doing it, but didn't bother mentioning that I've done it that way exactly once <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Melting it in does seem to help a bit, but not enough to be worth the hassle for someone who strops and sharpens as infrequently as I do.

I was always told to rip the leather briskly in a circular fashion with your palm. Working it over opens up the pores in it, the friction heats it up a little, and the oils from your skin nourish it. As for any special pattern of application, I suggest a cross hatch pattern (doesn't have to be pretty) or just scribble back and forth the short way, to make sure that all of the strop is working for you. I look at Horndog's example, and I see the middle of the surface is doing a lot more work than the edges. Sorry to pick on you, Horndog!

One of these days, as soon as I feel better, I will get me some proper items and do this myself. So many plans, not enough time.

There isn't a right or wrong compound, as long as it's abrasive, but the most widely used one (for knives) is primarily chromium oxide or the "green stuff".

I found that heating up the leather and compound just a little makes it easier to apply evenly and you get less cake/build up in certain spots.

As for cleaning, I do exactly what HD said, hit it up with green scotchbrite pad.

I bet you straighten all the pictures in your house, too, Momaw! I don't use the strop except for finishing and touchups. It does just fine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anyone know how to get Ginger Ale out of a keyboard?

Momaw is right, though. It is better to get the compound more evenly distributed on the leather. The thing is, it still makes my knives shaving sharp even when I don't. You wouldn't believe how many blades that strop has finished. But ginger ale in a keyboard? Hmmm. Hope it isn't as sticky as beer.

hahah, I'm with HD. It doesn't have to be perfect, the more even the coating the better, but the knife should already sharp before it hits the strop. With my belt sander/leather belt, I pretty much stopped using the strop.

I've used a strop for some time now; for both knives and razors.

I don't know about melting the honing compound into the leather, and rubbing the leather with your hand to soak you skin oils into it, but here's what I've done and never had a problem with.

Step #1: Do as Vic has said. Plain and simple.


Step #2: Depending on how often I'm using the strop, I'll rub it clean of the compound with a scotchbrite pad, and then use a very small amount of what I now know was Neatsfoot oil (Thanks Jeff! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />), and hand rub it into the leather of the strop to keep it nice and soft and pliable. I've got one strop for my straight razor that was used by my Grandfather, and now by me. Never use too much Neatsfoot oil, BTW, as that has the opposite effect, and tends to harden the leather. Lesser is better.

That's what I got, take it or leave it.

LOL...you guys kill me.

Remember, just because its leather does not mean you can't over "grind" the edge. A couple of strokes on each side does just fine for finish edge work.

Dan

You can also dab a little mineral oil on a cotton ball and dab on the leather and it helps it absorb. I’ve read it’s good to use a cheap knife to level out the height of the compound on the strop, so it evenly sharpens the edge. When stropping, don’t push too hard or you’ll round the edge & dull it. Usually the weight of the knife blade alone is enough to do it.