stropping a knife blade

[rprocter]

i am learning to sharpen using edgepro, sharpmaker and DMT xcoarse bench stone. i just bought an 18 in. leather/canvas strop and stropping compound. however, subsequently i read that leather glued to a wooden block is superior for stropping knives; that a free hanging strop is for razors. so, would i do better trying to learn on my hanging strop or make one with a wooden block and use that ? also, any advice on applying the stropping compound; i.e. how much, how often, work it in first, etc. ? thanks for the help, roland

 

[Buck268]

I have a piece of scrap leather glued to a 2x4 loaded with mothers mag & aluminum polish that works wonderfully. Try searching around for how and when to load up your strop there is a bunch of threads about it around here somewhere...

 

[matt321]

Here is a good stropping guide that I like.
http://drsharpening.com/leatherhone.html You could experiment with your free hanging strop, but most folks seem to recommend a hard backing for knives. I've had good luck with paper on glass, but have never tried the free hanging leather strop method. I load the paper with green, dry powder (Chromium Oxide).

 

[Buck268]

Oh another thing to consider is how much ive your surface has. For example the 2x4 backed leather will have more give than the glass backed paper. THe more give a surface has, the less pressure required (too much will tend to round the edge) and the more noticable convexing effect it has.

 

[Foilist]

I recently had my first experience sharpening a convex blade (Bark River Mini Canadian). Now I am a hopelessly incompetent sharpener, but I have never sharpened a knife so easily, quickly or well!

To sharpen, I used 1000 and then 2000 grit sandpaper on a thick piece of cardboard attached to a 2x4. To strop, I used just the cardboard treated with automotive rubbing compound.

 

[sodak]

I have better luck with free hanging, but I strongly suspect it's whatever you are most comfortable with. Good luck!