Uncomfortably Stropless

[Clancy]

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"Originally Posted on:Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:38 am"

Hi all,
I like to re-hone my edge tools regulary as I use them so tend to keep a 4000 grit water stone on the bench.
I have decided to make myself a leather strop to use instead, but am unsure of one simple thing - do I glue the rough side or the smooth side of the leather to the wooden backing board?
While we're at it, what type of compound should I add to the leather??

Cheers & thanks
Craig

[kiwigeo]

I use an Ashby strop and the green honing compound (comes as a stick) from Carbatec.

[Lillian]

Craig, all the strops I've seen have the smooth side out.

[Allen]

Smooth side, just like the barber use to use when I was a lad. I'm using the green compound from Lee Valley. Most likely it's the same stuff as Carbatec is selling.

[Kim]

I got a barbers horse hide strop, it's called a "Black Beauty"....Always wondered what happened to that old nag, we all know what happened to the other one who use to ride it, she made at least 8 blokes miserable, one of em twice

Anyhow, smooth side up is the way to go, I also use the green honing compound, mine came from Caswell when I done a buffing wheel order.

Cheers

Kim

[kiwigeo]

Allen wrote:
Smooth side, just like the barber use to use when I was a lad. I'm using the green compound from Lee Valley. Most likely it's the same stuff as Carbatec is selling.

It is.

[Clancy]

Cheers everyone.
Smooth side out & green compound, another mystery solved by ANZLF slueths

[Mike Thomas]

I have an Ashby strop, like Kiwigeo, and that has the 'suede' side out. It works beautifully.

[kiwigeo]

Yep..you cant beat a bit of suede.

[vandenboom]

Hey Craig
If you don't have suitable leather, found a forgotten cupboard full of leather at work a couple of weeks ago and will be in Canberra again in week of Sep 1 if you can wait till then.....
or I can send you a piece by mail.
Frank

[Clancy]

Already looking forward to seeing you again Frank. guitar
I'll pick you up this time.

Is there a "right leather"?
I came across a leather lounge with the arse worn out of it, rolled it over and cut the large sections off from the back of it.
Would this be to soft?? thin??
Do you need thick & tough stuff like a belt?

[Allen]

You can glue it down to something hard and flat like a piece of MDF. This weeks tips on the Woodsmiths Shop covered this topic.

[Dominic]

Hey Craig, I've got good supply of leather for strops. You are welcome to grab a bit if you want. Plus, I'm still waiting to see you latest archtop.
Cheers
Dom

[kiwigeo]

Allen may have kept the two circles of leather he chopped out of the seat of his leather bike pants.

[Localele]

Hi Craig, Just be careful when stropping the back of the chisel as it is easy to round it over with the "give" in the leather .Light touch. For chisels I prefer to keep it touched up on the stone (6000 grit).Strops are better for knives where you strop both sides.

[Lillian]

Timely Micheal, Woodsmith sent out their weekly tips and please browser our wares email. This last one was about sharpening. The gist of it was to use MDF as the substrate for sandpaper and for stropping compound. You have to apply a finish to the MDF first and then charge it with honing compound.

[Kim]

kiwigeo wrote:
Allen may have kept the two circles of leather he chopped out of the seat of his leather bike pants.

Eeeeeeeeooooowwww!

[Peter T]

I have some tough leathery material I have been keeping from when I was circumcised. There should be more than enough if your interested.

[Kim]

I didn't think they made chisels 'that' small Peter

[rocket]

I was going to say , no need to brag Peter, but anyway i'll pass on that offer thanks Pete.

Cheers Rod

[Taffy Evans]

I have my leather glued to a board, rough side out. it gets pounded flat in time anyway. I use the compound that came with my Tormek wet grinder. After that I strop on the fleshy parts of the palm of my hand, using a motion similar to that used by the barber stopping his razor. Thats what the old craftsmen did when I was an apprentice back in the day. I also put some fine machine oil on the strop too now and again.




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