Inexpensive steel/aluminum backings for hand strops?

OhioApexing

OhioApexing

Sharpener
Joined
Apr 17, 2018
Messages
235
I’ve been thinking about making small hand strops to sell/give away to folks that purchase sharpening services from me. Just a little something to help maintain the edge between sharpenings.

I’m thinking like 2” x 4” or 6” x 1” leather mounted on a flat piece of aluminum or steel with some 1 micron diamond emulsion/spray on it. I can buy some suitable leather for about the cost of a ham sandwich but I can’t seem to find a cost-effective (pre-cut) backing. I also do not have the tools to cut the metal myself, otherwise I’d just buy a sheet and go to town. I have a tool steel hacksaw but that could get real messy real fast.

I could always buy EP stone/lapping film blanks for about $5 a crack though I’d like to go cheaper. I’d really like to keep the total cost per-strop to about $3-$4 so I could comfortably give them away or sell them for $5.

Ideally, the backing would be hard and flat with a thin strip of leather on top so the novice would really have to work hard to roll the edge.

Thanks!
 
You can obtain metal backing at any decent hardware store. Just go out on the front of back porch and cut it with your hacksaw. Everything
does not come prepackaged these days. DM
 
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Check one of the "big box stores" -- you can buy 1/8" aluminum stock either one or two inches wide and 96 inches long for about $20 - $25. Easy to cut to length. Or look for the K&S Precision Metals display in a hardware store, but they will be pre-cut and packaged so more expensive.
 
Yup... you can buy the aluminum in strips... and they're very easy to cut.

But, I recommend trying a small "test sample" first... 'cause I doubt your customers will use them.... and they'll most likely end up in the junk drawer. I gave or sold ceramic rods to customers over the years, and even taught them how to use them (and that's easier to use and works better than a leather strop IMO, especially a small one)... and even then, most would just use the knife until dull and have it resharpened. "Did you try the ceramic?" "Oh, I forgot..." "Oh, didn't want to bother...." etc. (p.s.... if it's "free", they'll see little value in it).

Teaching good knife use and care, (print some "rules" on the back of a business card, or a magnetic refrigerator card with your contact info and give them that) will probably be of more benefit and use.
 
Ever think about using acrylic? You can get it any thickness/color and have it cut to size, the more you buy the cheaper each will be.
 
NORTHWEST_KNIFE_GUY said:
Ever think about using acrylic? You can get it any thickness/color and have it cut to size, the more you buy the cheaper each will be.
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I had some extra pieces of 1/4 inch acrylic and made a stop this weekend. It cuts with wood blade in a jig saw. If have decided on metal jig saws are around 20 or 30 at Walmart.
 
What about MDF I have been using that and gluing it to aluminum blanks and using the MDF as a strop,I think you could get by with using MDF as a blank and then gluing the leather to it.

OhioApexing said:
I’ve been thinking about making small hand strops to sell/give away to folks that purchase sharpening services from me. Just a little something to help maintain the edge between sharpenings.

I’m thinking like 2” x 4” or 6” x 1” leather mounted on a flat piece of aluminum or steel with some 1 micron diamond emulsion/spray on it. I can buy some suitable leather for about the cost of a ham sandwich but I can’t seem to find a cost-effective (pre-cut) backing. I also do not have the tools to cut the metal myself, otherwise I’d just buy a sheet and go to town. I have a tool steel hacksaw but that could get real messy real fast.

I could always buy EP stone/lapping film blanks for about $5 a crack though I’d like to go cheaper. I’d really like to keep the total cost per-strop to about $3-$4 so I could comfortably give them away or sell them for $5.

Ideally, the backing would be hard and flat with a thin strip of leather on top so the novice would really have to work hard to roll the edge.

Thanks!
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If you get 1/8"x1" 6061 aluminum at a metals supplier in 12' lengths it should cost around $5.40 each. It cuts just fine with a chop or miter saw with a $20 aluminum specific blade, which is how I do it. I think this is the best value for what you are looking for.
 
Diemaker said:
If you get 1/8"x1" 6061 aluminum at a metals supplier in 12' lengths it should cost around $5.40 each. It cuts just fine with a chop or miter saw with a $20 aluminum specific blade, which is how I do it. I think this is the best value for what you are looking for.
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This what I have done in the past and it works great with a bit of contact adhesive.
It probably isn’t necessary but I would lap the aluminum to flatten and rough it up with SiC powder.
 
Wow! I’m sure it’s not 6061, but after reading that I went up to HomeDepot and picked up some 1”x1/8”x36” aluminum plate for $3.86. Will use it for a few strop plates on the Hapstone. Coolness! Thanks!
 
OhioApexing said:
I’ve been thinking about making small hand strops to sell/give away to folks that purchase sharpening services from me. Just a little something to help maintain the edge between sharpenings.

I’m thinking like 2” x 4” or 6” x 1” leather mounted on a flat piece of aluminum or steel with some 1 micron diamond emulsion/spray on it. I can buy some suitable leather for about the cost of a ham sandwich but I can’t seem to find a cost-effective (pre-cut) backing. I also do not have the tools to cut the metal myself, otherwise I’d just buy a sheet and go to town. I have a tool steel hacksaw but that could get real messy real fast.

I could always buy EP stone/lapping film blanks for about $5 a crack though I’d like to go cheaper. I’d really like to keep the total cost per-strop to about $3-$4 so I could comfortably give them away or sell them for $5.

Ideally, the backing would be hard and flat with a thin strip of leather on top so the novice would really have to work hard to roll the edge.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Your best bet is just to buy a 6ft piece at a hardware store and cut it down yourself with a hacksaw, reciprocating saw, band saw, dry/cold cut saw, etc
 
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