Introduction
Stropping is a way to sharpen knives and maintain edges while preserving their integrity. It’s the process of drawing a sharpened blade across a narrow leather strip or cloth-like material known as a strop, to further draw out burrs from the edge, resulting in a much sharper finish. Many types of knives can be sharpened using a strop, such as kitchen knives, pocketknives and straight razors.
Step 1 – Before you begin stropping your knife, it is important to make sure that the strop itself is properly conditioned. The leather side of the strop should be lubed with a thin coat of leather conditioner using your fingers or a cloth for even application. Applying too much conditioner will hinder performance, so just make sure that you have enough on there to make it glide smoothly when you’re stropping your blade.
Step 2 – To ensure maximum control when stropping the blade, hold it firmly but not too tightly with your dominant hand. With your other hand grasp the handle of the strop and draw it tautly against a flat surface such as table or countertop. Then position the backside of your blade onto the leather side while keeping consistent pressure on it. Pass the blade over left end of the strip and towards right end repeating this action few times until you have reached desired sharpness before giving it one last pass heel to tip (back edge first). Always monitor how much pressure you are applying. Too much pressure can damage both knife’s edge and strap itself!
Step 3 – Once done with stropping pass over soft side (fabric) of strop one final time making light gentle strokes to remove any particles left from process and polishing edge for extremely smooth finish. This pass will help protect surface from corrosion by creating thin protective layer between metal blank and outside environment which significantly increasing lifespan of blade in general.
Conclusion – By following these steps correctly and regularly stropping your knife blades, you’ll find that they stay sharper for longer and require less frequent overall servicing/sharpening than if no strops were used at all!
What Is A Strop?
A strop is a tool used primarily for sharpening straight edged blades such as knives. It consists of two straps, one attached to a handle and the other attached to the blade. The straps are often made from fine leather or webbing material, which has been sanded smooth and then impregnated with abrasive compound (typically chromium oxide) to assist in honing the edges of a dull blade. Different types of materials can also be used, such as linen, canvas, denim and suede leather.
Depending on your requirements there are several types of strops available; butchers’ strops, diamond-embedded strops, paddle strops and more. Butchers’ strops have one side untreated while the other side has abrasives built in which are best suited for heavier items like cleavers. Diamond-embedded strops have diamonds set in the material which are perfect for sharpening small edged tools. Paddle strops have both sides covered in building surface abrasives and can be utilized over long periods of time and do not require any dressing or maintenance due to their durable construction.
Preparing the Strop
Using a strop to sharpen knives requires the use of a hard, smooth surface, such as leather or canvas. Metal strop plates are also available for use. It is important to choose a strop that is slightly flexible and that will not cut the knife edge. Before beginning, it is helpful to apply a abrasive paste or compound to the strop’s surface. If you are using leather, make sure to get one specifically intended for sharpening knives and make sure it does not have an excess of waxes or oils on its surface. Compounds designed specifically for stropping can be found at specialty stores or online, otherwise use honing oil or mineral oil along with 3-5 micron aluminum oxide abrasive paste. To apply compounds correctly, spread the paste evenly on the entire surface of the strop with your fingertips before buffing it in with small circular motions using a cloth. Give extra attention to applying it near any edges that may cut during stropping before moving onto sharpening your knife with it.
Prepping the Knife
Using the Strop – Once the knife is prepped, it is time to use the strop. To do this, hold the blade of the knife against the strop, keeping the angle consistent with that of when the blade was sharpened. Start at one end of the strop and slowly draw your knife along it, alternating between forward and backward movements before switching from one side to another. During this process, remember to keep even pressure and controlled speed throughout. When complete, buff off any residue with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Maintaining The Strop – To ensure optimal results and longevity of the strop, some maintenance should be carried out periodically – such as using a leather conditioner every few months to prevent it from drying out or cracking. Additionally, take note of excess dirt buildup that can remain on strops after repeatedly honing a blade – where it will be best practice to give it a good clean with mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol. Finally, make sure to store your strop in a well ventilated area away from extreme temperatures whenever possible.
Stropping the Knife
Using a Strop for Knives – Before using the strop, ensure that it is clean and free of any debris. To start stropping the blade on the strop, position the knife at an angle of roughly 15 degrees against the leather. The knife can then be moved in either one direction only, or alternately push and pull away with each stroke. When stropping in more than one direction, it can help to concentrate on pushing away from you as you move along. During stropping, use a medium pressure application with an even pressure applied across the surface of the strop.
Straight Strokes – Work on a section of approximately 1 to 2 centimetres at a time, beginning from one end of the strop. Take one side of the blade and drag or press it along straight from one end to another by applying gentle pressure. Shift your focus to other sections when complete, continuing until each section has been treated evenly. Alternately switch sides of your knife for best results.
Circular Motions – To create circular strokes across the strop’s surface, hold the handle gently but securely whilst pressing down on one side at a 45-degree angle. Then rotate your wrist while controlling both pressure and speed as you pass over each area until desired results are achieved. This will ensure an evenly polished edge when finished. Repeat this step as often as necessary while checking frequently for required results and paying attention not to over polish any areas.
Maintenance
To ensure the longevity of your strop, it is important to regularly clean and maintain it. Begin by using a soft cloth or brush to clean any dust, visible dirt, or grit out of the crevices. Next, apply leather conditioners that are specifically formulated for strop care onto the surface. Gently rub it in with a circular motion and let it soak in for 10 minutes before wiping off any residual product. Additionally, you can utilize polish on the strop as well. Make sure to use a high-grade wax free polish that has been recommended by professional blade sharpening experts. Finally, if your strop becomes very stiff or dry in between uses, you can add some coconut oil or mineral lubricant with a cloth dabbing motion to soften it up again. It is recommended that you clean and maintain your strop at least once per month.
Troubleshooting
Stropping a knife properly takes some patience and a light touch. If the blade feels like it’s cutting into the strop, you’re pushing too hard. Stropping should also not be done too quickly – you want to ensure that each pass of the blade over the strop is even and deliberate. Here are some other potential difficulties and tips for troubleshooting:
1. Your knife doesn’t seem sharp after stropping
If your knife isn’t getting any sharper, check the grit of your strop – it may be too coarse. Consider switching to a finer grade strop, or resharpen the blade before trying again.
2. Knife edge is curling
A curling edge is an indication that the strop is simply not fine grain enough to bring out the desired level of sharpness. Try switching to a finer grade for better results.
3. The razor doesn’t seem to slide smoothly on the surface
Your strop may need conditioning – use something like leather conditioner to improve its abrasive qualities and allow for smoother strokes when applied with blade in hand.
Conclusion
Using a strop to sharpen and maintain a knife is an important part of keeping that knife sharp and functional. A strop can be used to quickly hone a blade by burnishing the metal, resulting in a stronger, sharper cutting edge. It also removes any small burrs that may have built up, allowing for smoother use and cutting performance. Regular stropping should be part of any knife maintenance routine, as it helps prevent wear and tear in the future. For beginners, starting with a softer compound is recommended – this will help reduce the chance of damaging your blade, making it easy to develop a good technique without too much risk.
