Question about sandpaper and leather

H

heelflip_kid

Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
93
This is probably going to be the easiest question that you'll answer all day ;)

Are a leather strop with compound and wet/dry paper on a mousepad essentially the same thing? Do I need both? Is one better?

I've been pouring over Chad's Knife Maintenance and Sharpening article, and he mentions both, almost to say they are different roads to the same place.

Thanks for the help. Cheers.
 
As much as it pains me to say it...I would think yes. It took me almost two weeks to finally find 2000grit paper without ordering something online. But even at 2000grit the "jump" up to finer grits of compounds is probably sizeable.

I've made it nearly 8 months now down my road of the sharpening ninja without a "true" strop or compound. Progressing from 600-800-1000-1500-2000 and then heavyweight computer paper as a strop have gotten me a long way. Far enough that my technique is still the limiting factor.
 
You don't "need" both, but they do compliment one another. The grits for compounds such as chromium oxide are much finer that typical sandpapers. Following the sandpaper with a stropping with compounds will give you a finer, more polished edge.

A leather strop mounted on a hard surface will yield a larger radius curve than the mousepad with sandpaper. Both sandpaper and compounds can be used on hard surfaces if you want a completely flat bevel.
 
Zeasor said:
You don't "need" both, but they do compliment one another.
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I thought, but wanted to be sure, thanks.


Zeasor said:
A leather strop mounted on a hard surface will yield a larger radius curve than the mousepad with sandpaper. Both sandpaper and compounds can be used on hard surfaces if you want a completely flat bevel.
Click to expand...

Sorry, not quite sure what you mean by "larger radius curve." Do you mean the convexing curve to the edge will be greater?
 
There is more give to a mousepad than a piece of leather glued to a hard surface.

I don't think the grit is equivalent going from sandpaper to a loaded strop. A loaded strop will give a more polished surface than any stone or sandpaper of the same grit size (my leather strop loaded with 10 micron diamond paste yields a much more polished surface than my 2000 grit Shapton pro stone).
 
The radius of an arc defines how "sharply" or how "tightly" the arc curves. Since a mousepad is softer (has more give) than typical leather, it will tend to curve around the edge of the blade more sharply (smaller radius) and tend to "convex" the bevel more. This is an over-simplified explanation of geometric terminology.
 
It depends on what you want. You can get a half decent convex edge with only sandpaper. But it you want a polished, refined edge, you need leather strops and compound.

And strops are very easy and cheap to make with scrap leather. and, IME VERY MUCH worth the little bit of extra effort.
 
Question 1: Is "grit" standardized enough that there may be a table floating around with grits and their corresponding micron value?

Question 2: I keep hearing about how easy and cheap strops are...but I can't find any of this scrap leather to save my life. I've been to several boot stores, several of which did horse tack and saddle as well. Not a one had scrap leather suitable for a strop. They all try to sell me a bag of leather lacing and 1X2" "scraps". I've bought a pair of Ariats and had my Dan Posts resoled at one store. (The most promising of them all too...) So I'm not just some Jo-nobody wanting a handout.


And free hint while we're talking about mousepads being softer than leather

Go to Wal-Mart's CRAFT SECTION and look for some FOAM. They sell it in a big block. Assorted colors about 1/8" or 3/32" inch thick. It gets close to some soft leathers and is much stiffer than a mousepad.
 
Don't know what half the stuff on that page means...but that just gives me more stuff to research and learn.

Many Thanks
 
The high grit sandpapers are more portable for a pack or your truck. I have 400 & 600 grit on a strips of mousepad glued to paint stirring sticks and, as I make more, I keep them in drawers everywhere.
 
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