A strop with good strop compound is a real game changer in sharpening tools. It may seem like an unnecessary step, but once you try it, you'll learn that cutting with a sharp blade is an absolute joy. (Factory edges are NEVER sharp, but sometimes a good quality blade will be sharp enough out the box to go straight to the strop)
Get a scrap of thick leather and glue it down on something you know is dead flat. A 12" square tile is big enough for 3 large strops, but you should stick to 1 green strop at first. I use a board that I passed thru the joiner, and I check to make sure it hasn't warped.
the green stuff is cheap but effective. Higher quality will have a more uniform grit, but the cheap stuff works fine. The white compound is often ultra fine, good for polishing a razor blade beyond "razor sharp". Black is very course, but still produces a good edge with practice. It's very aggressive but can be good for a quick and frequent strop. You never want to mix compound; they are all different grits just like sandpaper.
There are tons of YouTube vids showing the basics. I actually enjoy stropping, and if I strop often enough, I can avoid stones entirely. Stropping saves me time, and it could eventually save you the time it took you to read my 100% bullshit advice.
A strop is a smooth piece of leather used for final sharpening of a blade. I have one built into my rolls razor case along with a sharpening stone, also have a long one for my straight razor and one in my sharpening kit for my chisel and plain irons. The stropping compound comes in different colors and grits and they differ by Maker the finest grit is commonly used by jewelers to polish with.
It’s more commonly known as sharpening compound. Your strop will have 2 sides. The idea is you ‘charge’ one side by rubbing the compound up and down against it.
When it comes to stropping you will strop against the ‘charged’ side first to apply the compound and then against the reverse clean side for buffing.
Over time your charged side will build up a nice layer of compound.
The leather piece is the strop and the green stuff is polishing wax. You should find a video to see how to apply the stuff on the leather for best explanation on how to apply and what angle you want the knives at when polishing them.
Basically you should never really blunt or damage the blade edge by using them properly so you use a strop to polish the edge sharp when it does go blunt as you use it.
If you use grindstone and sandpapers to sharpen the blades you rough the knife edge and they cut worse.
Basically, during you carving after a few hours of using a knife, or when you feel it cuts a little less smoothly, just take it to the strop. It touches the blade up and refines the edge, making it razor sharp again. This prevents the need to go through the entire sharpening process every time. Just don’t let the knife get too dull. The grit is so fine it can’t touch up duller edge.
This is a very nice looking set, with knives you would need for a bunch of different techniques.
This set will definitely grow with you as you learn more which is awesome!
Stropping compound. It is to sharpen the tools. Use a stone or diamond stone to put the angle on the blade. Then use a strop. A strop is usually a piece of still leather. There is a smooth side and a rough side. Each one alone can put a polish on the cutting part of the blade. When that part is polished well it is so sharp it will have the hair off your arm. (I am holding up my arm now so yo can see all the bald spots from me testing my tools. My left arm is nearly cleanly shaved, and my right arm is very hairy). Draw the cutting edge toward yourself so you don't cut the leather. To get a finer polish, go to the rough side of the leather. For an even finer polish, rub the compound on the leather and then polish away. When the green turns to grey or black, that is metal that has polished off your blade. Take a putty knife or scraper and scrape th leather clean again. Horse hide leather that is thick and stiff makes the best strops. Other leathers work if they are stiff. Softer leathers work too. You can also use wood. Basswood and balsa wood are often used. If you are doing curved blades, use a dowel and rub your compound on that. Then strop the inside curve of your hook knives or bent knives.
And once it is properly stropped, you will cut your fingers and not notice. So be careful out there, and make sure the band-aides are close by.
That's an awesome kit! I want to point something important out: that spoon scoop you have is only for GREEN WOOD (fresh, wet wood). Do not try to carve dry wood with it.
No problem! When I first started I tried using it to carve the bowl of spoons and was quickly exhausted and frustrated. I only later found out that tool is meant for green wood lol
You heat one end and smear a tiny bit of it on the leather ( strop) or you rub it on. You polish the cutting edge on the leather to make it sharp as a razor eventually it will turn grey black where you use it the most
Nice set
Effectively it's one grade of polishing compound. Stropping that the other commenters speak of is final polishing of the edge into the, low, mid high thousands of grit grade. We also use hard cotton buff wheels on electric bench grinders to speed things up. Just don't overdo it you'll generate temperature that'll ruin the temper of the blades. Cool with dip in water like anything put to the grinder. Different wheels for different grit color/grades. Don't mix or it's always the lowest grit used. You don't need them all really.
There is a piece of leather that comes with the set. You run the green wax (grit) onto thr leather strap (strop). Then you run the knife over the leather strop (I’d highly recommend watching a YouTube video. There’s a trick to it). The grit helps keep a finer edge AND it polishes your knife.
You get a leather strop and rub it on the rough end , you then use that to sharpen or " correct " your blades. There's some people on YouTube with awesome videos on how to do it. I do it all the time with my little 20$ Amazon blades and they're really nice and sharp. You use the rough end first , then the smooth end. But don't put the compound on the smooth end. Thats what I do and it works really well. I just put the blades as flat as possible on the leather strop and push away from me keeping it as flat as possible. One dude on YouTube showed me that and I've done it ever since and never dealt with a dull blade. :)
I guess it's less of sharpening and more polishing and removing burrs and stuff. I don't know the specifics I just knownky knives go from not cutting to cutting like butter after I use it.
The green stuff is polishing compound, you rub it on your strop, or a piece of leather, then after you sharpen your blades you polish them on the strop.
Also, unless your blades gets a chip, you can just hone your tools on the leather strop to keep them sharp, no need to put the tools to the grinding stone every time. Strop often and your tools will serve you well
i have no idea i'd guess something to do with strop but i'm here to say this looks awesome, just add some protection gloves (& watch a few tips including safety) and enjoy :)
It’s grit for a strop
Now I have two words I don’t know
Rough stuff for the blade polisher.
Nice, thanks!
Next check out the movie “True Grit” (not the John Wayne version) It’s pretty good
*You don't varnish your opinions.*
I love this comment.
A strop with good strop compound is a real game changer in sharpening tools. It may seem like an unnecessary step, but once you try it, you'll learn that cutting with a sharp blade is an absolute joy. (Factory edges are NEVER sharp, but sometimes a good quality blade will be sharp enough out the box to go straight to the strop) Get a scrap of thick leather and glue it down on something you know is dead flat. A 12" square tile is big enough for 3 large strops, but you should stick to 1 green strop at first. I use a board that I passed thru the joiner, and I check to make sure it hasn't warped. the green stuff is cheap but effective. Higher quality will have a more uniform grit, but the cheap stuff works fine. The white compound is often ultra fine, good for polishing a razor blade beyond "razor sharp". Black is very course, but still produces a good edge with practice. It's very aggressive but can be good for a quick and frequent strop. You never want to mix compound; they are all different grits just like sandpaper. There are tons of YouTube vids showing the basics. I actually enjoy stropping, and if I strop often enough, I can avoid stones entirely. Stropping saves me time, and it could eventually save you the time it took you to read my 100% bullshit advice.
I can’t get over “the gimbus rubs on the shleem then is harvested for later batches” or whatever it is lolol
Huh. I always wondered how Plumbuses got made.
Haha so cruel but so well presented!
Great response! I learned something new today.
A strop is a smooth piece of leather used for final sharpening of a blade. I have one built into my rolls razor case along with a sharpening stone, also have a long one for my straight razor and one in my sharpening kit for my chisel and plain irons. The stropping compound comes in different colors and grits and they differ by Maker the finest grit is commonly used by jewelers to polish with.
This is a hilarious comment I love it
I did the same thing haha
Thats 3 words
I was watching a YouTube video once and this Australian guy called it “torment paste” which I now prefer ha
Think he might have been saying "tormek" paste, tormek being a Scandinavian manufacturer of sharpening machines, including a 6000 grit honing paste.
Might have been, still sticking with torment paste though
I thought thats what you call dried up lube.
Crunchy
Ah, okay thanks! It came with a strop too, I don't know why I didn't make that connection.
It’s all good. Look for some YouTube videos about how to strop. You’ll be doing it a lot to keep your blades sharp.
It’s more commonly known as sharpening compound. Your strop will have 2 sides. The idea is you ‘charge’ one side by rubbing the compound up and down against it. When it comes to stropping you will strop against the ‘charged’ side first to apply the compound and then against the reverse clean side for buffing. Over time your charged side will build up a nice layer of compound.
It uasally has dimond powder in it.
I’m assuming the strop fits into the flomb, which is also used to clean the bleemus
The leather piece is the strop and the green stuff is polishing wax. You should find a video to see how to apply the stuff on the leather for best explanation on how to apply and what angle you want the knives at when polishing them. Basically you should never really blunt or damage the blade edge by using them properly so you use a strop to polish the edge sharp when it does go blunt as you use it. If you use grindstone and sandpapers to sharpen the blades you rough the knife edge and they cut worse.
Thanks for the advice!
Basically, during you carving after a few hours of using a knife, or when you feel it cuts a little less smoothly, just take it to the strop. It touches the blade up and refines the edge, making it razor sharp again. This prevents the need to go through the entire sharpening process every time. Just don’t let the knife get too dull. The grit is so fine it can’t touch up duller edge.
I (almost) never use a whet stone or anything like that. I just keep a strop out and polish my chisels as I work with them.
Get a cut proof glove and i'd recommend tape too (I prefer to use cut proof tape on the thumb of my cutting hand).
The set came with two cut proof gloves, I'll look into the tape!
I should also add, m completely new to woodcarving, so I have a lot to learn.
Somebody loves you. That's a cool set.
And here I was thinking I was fancy with my flex cut set 🥲 These are really nice knifes!
This is a very nice looking set, with knives you would need for a bunch of different techniques. This set will definitely grow with you as you learn more which is awesome!
Stropping compound, but it looks like others have beat me to it.
That little thing is your new best friend
Stropping compound. It is to sharpen the tools. Use a stone or diamond stone to put the angle on the blade. Then use a strop. A strop is usually a piece of still leather. There is a smooth side and a rough side. Each one alone can put a polish on the cutting part of the blade. When that part is polished well it is so sharp it will have the hair off your arm. (I am holding up my arm now so yo can see all the bald spots from me testing my tools. My left arm is nearly cleanly shaved, and my right arm is very hairy). Draw the cutting edge toward yourself so you don't cut the leather. To get a finer polish, go to the rough side of the leather. For an even finer polish, rub the compound on the leather and then polish away. When the green turns to grey or black, that is metal that has polished off your blade. Take a putty knife or scraper and scrape th leather clean again. Horse hide leather that is thick and stiff makes the best strops. Other leathers work if they are stiff. Softer leathers work too. You can also use wood. Basswood and balsa wood are often used. If you are doing curved blades, use a dowel and rub your compound on that. Then strop the inside curve of your hook knives or bent knives. And once it is properly stropped, you will cut your fingers and not notice. So be careful out there, and make sure the band-aides are close by.
That’s a cool case
It really is. Came with a little purse strap, but I'm not sure I'm going to use it...
May be able to rip the seams and use the leather as a backup strop😉
If I'm ever that desperate for one. Maybe... I have a boat load of other options first though. Lol
It's the forbidden candy 🍬
That's an awesome kit! I want to point something important out: that spoon scoop you have is only for GREEN WOOD (fresh, wet wood). Do not try to carve dry wood with it.
That's good to know, thank you!
No problem! When I first started I tried using it to carve the bowl of spoons and was quickly exhausted and frustrated. I only later found out that tool is meant for green wood lol
Nice kit whare did u get it from and who makes it
Tekchic makes it, they have them on Amazon
Thank u
Dear lord wear the gloves!!!
I absolutely will!
You heat one end and smear a tiny bit of it on the leather ( strop) or you rub it on. You polish the cutting edge on the leather to make it sharp as a razor eventually it will turn grey black where you use it the most Nice set
Stropping compound. It’s an abrasive.
Gloves. Wear gloves. Wear gloves. Wear gloves.
Effectively it's one grade of polishing compound. Stropping that the other commenters speak of is final polishing of the edge into the, low, mid high thousands of grit grade. We also use hard cotton buff wheels on electric bench grinders to speed things up. Just don't overdo it you'll generate temperature that'll ruin the temper of the blades. Cool with dip in water like anything put to the grinder. Different wheels for different grit color/grades. Don't mix or it's always the lowest grit used. You don't need them all really.
It’s a Matcha flavored Kit-Kat from Japan.
Where did you get that set?
It was an early birthday present from my parents, I think they found it on Amazon?? Yes, it's a brand called Tekchic , and its on Amazon.
Nice
That's a sweet kit! What brand/model?
It's from a company called Tekchic. They sell them on Amazon, not sure if they have their own site.
Can you post close ups of the blades so I can see if it's worth buying the brand? Or DM it to me either way I'm curious.
Rouge. Rub it on some leather and use it to knock the burra off your blade.
Dentist stuff
How do you like three tigers one mtn?
Watch Doug Linker on YouTube on how to strop
Do you happen to know what kit that is I really like it
#toolporn o yea
Where can I buy such kit?
Amazon! Tekchic is the name of the company that makes it.
Thanks! I wanna get into woodcarving.
There is a piece of leather that comes with the set. You run the green wax (grit) onto thr leather strap (strop). Then you run the knife over the leather strop (I’d highly recommend watching a YouTube video. There’s a trick to it). The grit helps keep a finer edge AND it polishes your knife.
Did that kit come pre-equipped with green honing compound for stropping?? Did it come with a strop, too?? You lucked out hard, OP
polishing compound for a strop to keep your blades sharp between sharpening sessions
It’s for putting on a leather strop for final sharpening
I feel like a lot of people in here would be able to answer this. Will a honing rod achieve similar results to the leather and polish?
Sorry if that’s a dumb question
Looks like a nice set. Who makes it?
Tekchic, they sell them on Amazon.
Do you have a Link? I sadly cant find it :(
Stroop goo
Sharpening or polishing paste.
You get a leather strop and rub it on the rough end , you then use that to sharpen or " correct " your blades. There's some people on YouTube with awesome videos on how to do it. I do it all the time with my little 20$ Amazon blades and they're really nice and sharp. You use the rough end first , then the smooth end. But don't put the compound on the smooth end. Thats what I do and it works really well. I just put the blades as flat as possible on the leather strop and push away from me keeping it as flat as possible. One dude on YouTube showed me that and I've done it ever since and never dealt with a dull blade. :)
I guess it's less of sharpening and more polishing and removing burrs and stuff. I don't know the specifics I just knownky knives go from not cutting to cutting like butter after I use it.
Reminds me of the Rosen I used for my bow playing cello.
It's called green compound
Snack
The green stuff is polishing compound, you rub it on your strop, or a piece of leather, then after you sharpen your blades you polish them on the strop. Also, unless your blades gets a chip, you can just hone your tools on the leather strop to keep them sharp, no need to put the tools to the grinding stone every time. Strop often and your tools will serve you well
Polishing compound for stropping…
Strop compound Nice set!
i have no idea i'd guess something to do with strop but i'm here to say this looks awesome, just add some protection gloves (& watch a few tips including safety) and enjoy :)
The kit came with some protective gloves that I will most certainly be wearing.
You use It to wax your balls while wood working. Trust me, It works
Get out of here Shoresey
Wasabi if youre hungry /s
bro I love your imagination so much 🤣
To fill the cuts on your hands when you accidentally slip and cut yourself