Can you strop on yourself?

M

Muaddib1116

Joined
Dec 26, 2010
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I had a weird thought. You can strop on unloaded leather, denim, or cardboard. Can you strop on your own skin? Like your forearm or thigh?
 
The older carbon blades responded positively to stropping on blue jeans before use, particularly if its a personal carry folder or fixed in a sheath you'd been out on the tractor with or doing some other such thing carrying it while sweating some or if it had been a while between uses. Carbon blades can build up oxide just sitting especially if stored in leather which contains moisture. The jeans manage to set up or knock off excess rust particles formed on the oxide layer formed over time between uses and the blade does consequently bite jut a bit better from it.

The newer harder non oxide layer forming blades of the stainless variety benefit and/or respond very little from this same exercise in my experience.

STR
 
Echoing what STR said about some carbon steels, they might respond if the edge is already very fine; this can be said of virtually any surface used for stropping such fine edges, like plain paper or fabric like denim or linen. As with any stropping done without compound, the benefit will be very limited, aside from scrubbing away weakened remnants & burrs from sharpening, and perhaps some oxide (corrosion) along the finest portion of the edge.

More often than not, you'll likely not notice much, if any, change in the edge when stropping this way, if the edge is worn at all.


David
 
Have stropped on my pantleg (jeans) for years, eventually wear a hole in the leg of the pants--using the knife 3-4 hours/day, so a lot of stropping. When i don't want to ruin my pants, I use the front of my shirt, sweatshirt for example. But the knife is VERY sharp to begin with, and honed frequently in the same time frame.
 
I've watched both Carbon and stainless steels. The Buck 110 for instance being stropped on a jean pant leg or denim jacket sleeve.. with positive results.
I wouldn't do it but a friend of mine did it religiously when we were camping.

Cardboard works well by itself. I've used it for many years.
 
I remember stropping knives on our blue jeans in recess in about second grade.... lol I must be getting old!
 
I'm sorry, I appreciate your responses, but how is it that all five of you missed what my question was?
 
Actually there is a video of Fisk showing how he strops on the palm of his hand. You may be able to find it on YouTube.
 
I have had success using my forearm or the palm of my hand at times, however, it must be a rather fine bur you're looking to remove or an already good edge you're wanting to touch up. Seems my palm works the best which is something I learned from watching a Bill Bagwell video.
 
I have "stropped" my safety razor on my arms before using it, and have greatly extended the life of them. You can also use a dry wash towel, which is especially good if you use it after rinsing it off good and before putting it away. First time my wife saw me doing this, she thought I was nuts, and was trying to cut myself. Just be careful and only strop away from the blade edge.

Have a Blessed day!

Omar
 
The only thing I strop with is my jeans, and it works well, I find it works better if you moist the denim first
 
As Omar mentioned, a little trick I picked up is to strop my disposable razor a few times on the palm of my hand before using it, makes the blades last a couple extra shaves. Which for this mountain man beard is about 4-5 shaves per razor instead of 2-3 without stropping. Never tried it on my knives, though, I just use a real leather strop for that.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
I've watched both Carbon and stainless steels. The Buck 110 for instance being stropped on a jean pant leg or denim jacket sleeve.. with positive results.
I wouldn't do it but a friend of mine did it religiously when we were camping.

Cardboard works well by itself. I've used it for many years.
Click to expand...

420HC, such as from Buck and Case, is one of the stainless steels that responds noticeably to bare denim stropping after sharpening. Along with simple carbon steels like 1095 and CV, that's a big part of why I like these steels, because they ake a very fine edge which can be maintained on the simplest and most readily available tools and materials. In spite of 420HC's often-bashed 'lowly reputation', I think there's a certain genius behind manufacturers continuing to make blades with it, because it's as user-friendly and worry-free as a steel can be. When I sharpen these, I've always given them a few swipes on my jeans when finishing up.


David
 
Muaddib1116 said:
I'm sorry, I appreciate your responses, but how is it that all five of you missed what my question was?
Click to expand...

Well my Pal!
Because the five of us didn't believe that anyone would seriously ask if you can strop a knife edge, full strength directly on their own skin.

I've felt for an edge or burr by doing a stropping motion on my palm briefly but I personally like my skin as is and have used everything from cardboard, plastic to bark off a tree and the dangers of knife making and sharpening are real enough without tempting fate.

That's how!
 
Muaddib1116 said:
I'm sorry, I appreciate your responses, but how is it that all five of you missed what my question was?
Click to expand...

I'd overlooked this^ earlier. If that presumes to include my response, I didn't miss what you asked (re: stropping on your own skin). My response noted it'll be similar to stropping on fabric or other materials, IF no compound is used and your edge is very fine to begin with. If the edge isn't very fine to start, no amount of stropping without some abrasive compound will make much difference. Human skin generally won't be abrasive enough to actually hone or polish steel; it's effect in stropping will be limited to knocking loose very fine and loosely-attached burrs or other remnants, at best, and only realigning an edge if it's very, very thin and pliable (as might be found on a thinly-ground straight razor, for example).


David
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
I'd overlooked this^ earlier. If that presumes to include my response, I didn't miss what you asked (re: stropping on your own skin). My response noted it'll be similar to stropping on fabric or other materials, IF no compound is used and your edge is very fine to begin with. If the edge isn't very fine to start, no amount of stropping without some abrasive compound will make much difference. Human skin generally won't be abrasive enough to actually hone or polish steel; it's effect in stropping will be limited to knocking loose very fine and loosely-attached burrs or other remnants, at best, and only realigning an edge if it's very, very thin and pliable (as might be found on a thinly-ground straight razor, for example).


David
Click to expand...

My apologies, I stand corrected.
 
From the time I started carrying an EDC folder, I habitually have stropped the blade on the leg of my jeans after every couple of uses. I've never had any influence nor input to do so, it just has seemed a natural way to remove any residue that may be on the edge, and hone the edge a bit. I was pleased to find, when I joined these forums, that there is actually something to it. Harder supersteels show little to no effect, perceptually, but by first few EDC's, in 14C28N, seemed to show a positive response. Knowing now that it's a modified razor blade steel, it makes sense how well it responds to stropping following light cutting chores.

I've tried stropping on my forearm to a similar effect - it really only hones or polishes if the edge is very refined already, but can help to keep it that way if done habitually, in my experience.
 
"Can you strop on your own skin? Like your forearm or thigh? "

Yes you can. I prefer to leave it on my body for best results even though it isn't a flat surface LOL.

I've stropped on all sorts of stuff, including multiple types of leathers, paper, cloth etc etc. I have my preferences, which would be several pages of text. The results depend on the level of finish and geometry of the edge and the abrasiveness of the strop. Of course using cloth or skin there is a difference if it has dirt on it. Although baby's butts are considered particularly smooth, I would NOT recommend it LOL even if your occupation was as a Mohel :)

---
Ken
 
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