How To Make A Strop For Knife Sharpening SUPER EASY
Summary
TLDRThis video tutorial guides viewers through the process of creating a DIY strop for sharpening blades. Addressing common questions about cost-effectiveness and the quality of homemade versus store-bought strops, the host shares insights on materials, including the best types of leather and compounds. The step-by-step guide covers everything from choosing the right leather and compound to constructing and applying the strop, concluding with a comparison test between the DIY strop and a store-bought alternative, revealing no discernible difference in performance.
Takeaways
- 🛠️ The video is a tutorial on building a DIY strop in response to questions from a previous video.
- 💰 The cost of materials for a DIY strop is comparable to buying a store-bought strop, but DIY allows for more straps to be made from the same amount of leather.
- 📏 The required materials for the DIY strop are simple and likely already available to most viewers, such as glue and a flat surface.
- 🐂 Any type of leather can be used for the strop, as the choice of compound is more crucial than the type of leather.
- 🔨 The presenter prefers green chromium oxide as a compound due to its balance of cutting and polishing capabilities.
- 🔩 The build process involves attaching leather to a piece of plywood and can be done without fancy tools.
- 📝 Contact cement is used to glue the leather to the wood, with specific instructions to let it dry before application.
- 🔪 The DIY strop is tested against a store-bought strop, and the presenter finds no significant difference in performance.
- 🛡️ DIY stropping allows for customization, such as applying different compounds to different sides of the strop for various sharpening stages.
- 📈 The presenter emphasizes that sharpening technique is more important than the specific strop or compound used.
- 🌟 The video concludes by encouraging viewers to try DIY projects, starting with something as simple and useful as a strop.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the video?
-The main purpose of the video is to demonstrate how to build a DIY strop and to answer common questions about stropping and the materials used.
What are the two main materials needed for a DIY strop according to the video?
-The two main materials needed for a DIY strop are leather and a sharpening compound.
How much did the leather and compound cost in the video?
-The leather cost twelve dollars and seventy-five cents, and the compound cost thirteen dollars and ninety-five cents, totaling twenty-six dollars and seventy cents.
What is the approximate cost of a DIY strop compared to a store-bought one?
-The cost of making a DIY strop is about the same as buying an Ives Plush Drop Block, which is around twenty-six dollars and seventy cents.
What types of leather have been used for stropping in the past according to the video?
-The video mentions using various types of leather such as old tool belt leather, boot leather, welding gloves leather, and old belt leather for stropping.
What is the preferred sharpening compound used in the video?
-The preferred sharpening compound used in the video is green chromium oxide, which is considered a good mix of cutting and polishing.
What is the importance of the technique in stropping according to the video?
-According to the video, technique plays a significant role in stropping, more so than the exact compound or leather being used.
What is the process of attaching the leather to the wood in the DIY strop?
-The process involves cutting the leather and wood to size, drilling a hole for hanging, and then using contact cement to glue the leather onto the wood.
What is the purpose of running the finished strop through a table saw?
-Running the finished strop through a table saw is done to clean up the edges that are sticking over the leather, purely for aesthetic purposes.
How does the video suggest applying the sharpening compound to the strop?
-The video suggests using the 'old crayon method' to apply the compound, or using a heat gun or hair dryer to melt the compound, or using a drop of oil, cutting board oil, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or leather conditioner as a thinning agent.
What is the conclusion of the video regarding the effectiveness of a DIY strop compared to a store-bought one?
-The conclusion of the video is that there is no noticeable difference in effectiveness between a DIY strop and a store-bought one like the Knives Plus drop block.
What are the advantages of making your own strop according to the video?
-The advantages of making your own strop include the ability to customize it with different compounds on each side, a longer stropping surface, and the satisfaction of creating a useful tool yourself.
Outlines
🛠 DIY Strop Introduction and Cost Analysis
The video begins with the host addressing the viewers and introducing the project of building a DIY strop. It serves as a response to previous inquiries about stropping and aims to answer common questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of homemade versus store-bought strops, the types of leather and compounds suitable for stropping, and the importance of technique over tools. The host details the materials and costs involved, mentioning the price of leather and compound used, and suggests that the DIY approach can be as cost-effective as purchasing a ready-made strop, especially considering the amount of leather provided is enough for multiple strops. The importance of choosing the right compound over the type of leather is emphasized, with a preference for green chromium oxide due to its balance between cutting and polishing capabilities.
🔨 DIY Strop Construction and Technique Comparison
This paragraph delves into the construction process of the DIY strop, which involves using a piece of plywood, leather, and contact cement for gluing. The host explains the simplicity of the build, stating that no fancy tools are required, and even suggests that the strop can be used without gluing the leather to the wood. The video demonstrates the use of contact cement, highlighting the need to let it dry before applying the leather and ensuring proper alignment for a successful bond. After the strop is assembled, the host discusses the various methods of applying compound to the strop, such as using a crayon, a heat gun, or a thinning agent like cutting board oil. The paragraph concludes with a comparison between the DIY strop and a store-bought one, with the host unable to discern a significant difference in performance. The DIY strop is praised for its adaptability, such as applying different compounds on each side for various stropping stages, and for being a beginner-friendly DIY project that can significantly enhance sharpening techniques.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡DIY Strop
💡Leather
💡Compound
💡Edge Technique
💡Scrap Plywood
💡Contact Cement
💡Table Saw
💡Crayon Method
💡Stropping Technique
💡Store-Bought Strop
💡Grain
Highlights
Building a DIY strop in response to viewer questions about previous video.
Addressing whether homemade stropping is cheaper than buying one.
Comparing the effectiveness of homemade versus store-bought stropping methods.
Total cost of materials for a DIY strop is similar to a commercial one.
Sufficient leather for about five stropping straps can reduce individual cost.
Any type of leather can be used for stropping, with no significant difference found.
Choice of compound is more critical than the type of leather used.
Green chromium oxide is recommended for a balance of cutting and polishing.
Technique plays a significant role in stropping effectiveness.
Simple build process using scrap plywood and leather.
No fancy tools required for the DIY strop construction.
Using contact cement for gluing leather to wood, with drying instructions provided.
Applying compound to the strop using various methods, including with oil.
DIY strop's performance compared to the Ives Plush Drop Block.
The DIY strop offers the advantage of having two sides for different compounds.
Stropping technique is more important than the strop itself for sharpening.
DIY strop is an excellent starting point for those new to making their tools.
The choice between DIY and store-bought stropping depends on user preference.
Encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video for channel support.
Transcripts
what's going on guys through today we
are gonna be building a DIY strop now
this video is kind of in response to a
lot of questions that I've gotten on a
previous video I did where I built the
strop out of an old leather belt as well
as hopefully answer a bunch of questions
that I get kind of randomly and a bunch
of other videos about straps in general
some of those questions include is it
cheaper to make a strop yourself over
buying one do purchase straps or
store-bought straps work the same as
homemade straps
what leather works best for a homemade
strop if I only buy one compound what
compound do I buy we're gonna answer all
these questions and more in the rest of
this video so stay tuned so let's talk
materials and cost I think most of you
will only have to buy two things for a
DIY strop first leather second compound
this leather cost me twelve dollars and
seventy-five cents the compound cost
thirteen dollars and ninety five cents
for a total of twenty six seventy now
that's about the same price of an Ives
plush drop block now there are some
other things that are gonna be needed
for the build but I think most of you
have these things already lying around
the house like glue and something to
glue the leather to or if you don't can
easily be scrounge from somewhere else
so cost wise you're looking at about the
same price but keep in mind this is
enough leather for about five straps so
you may be able to split the cost with
someone else in order to help make it
cheaper now over the years I've used all
kinds of leather to strap on everything
from old tool belt boot leather leather
welding gloves to old belt if you're
looking for a strap that will simply
remove burrs and simply refine the edge
any leather will do I haven't found
there's a significant difference between
types of leather they will all work your
choice of compound is more important
than its carrier I like green chromium
oxide I think it's a good mix of cutting
and polishing I've mentioned this before
but not all green compounds are the same
some seem finer than others however they
all are capable of getting hair
whittling edge technique has a lot more
to do with it than the exact compound or
the exact leather
that's being used now I realize this
doesn't apply in any in all situations
we're talking about EDC blades here not
straight razors this is a really simple
build but basically I'm using a piece of
scrap plywood that I cut down to 12
inches by one and a half inches then cut
to ten inch pieces of leather and
finally I drilled a hole so I could hang
it on the wall very simple stuff anyone
can do no fancy tools required although
if you have fancy tools no sense in
letting them go to waste
[Music]
so it's now time to glue the leather on
the piece of wood I'm gonna use contact
cement
I do have super glue you can use Elmer's
glue woodworking glue it really doesn't
matter the type of glue you use and
honestly you can glue this or you don't
even have to glue this you can literally
just apply a compound like it is set it
on a flat surface and go to town for
what I do for my personal preference is
that I like it glued to a nice flat
surface like this piece of finished
grade plywood it seems to be what works
best for me I'm just using contact
cement because it's what I had on hand
now you should definitely read the
instructions if you decide to use
contact cement
I've used this glue a lot in the past
and it's different than any other glues
and that you need to let it dry first
before you put the pieces together
typically you want to let it dry until
the contact cement stops sticking to
your finger a heat gun can be used to
speed things along just don't get it too
hot when you finally apply the pieces
together and make sure you have
everything lined up as you will only get
one shot at this so if everything glued
up and ready to go the strap is done
it's in a perfectly functioning
condition all you have to do now is
apply the compound but before I do that
I'm gonna run this through the table saw
and take care of these edges that are
kind of sticking over the leather now if
you don't have a table saw don't worry
about this step this will not interfere
with the functions drop in anyway it's
purely for looks there's several
different ways you can apply compound to
a strop I'm just using the old crayon
method to apply the compound you can use
a heat gun or hair dryer to help melt
the compound and fully saturate it into
the strop you can also use a drop of
cutting board oil mineral oil petroleum
jelly or even leather conditioner and
use it as a thinning agent for the
compound pretty much any method works
just fine I tend to gravitate towards
the oil method using a small drop of oil
on the strop and rubbing it in with your
finger to help thin out and evenly
spread the compound seems to work very
well
so now the question is whether or not a
DIY shop will work just as well as a
store-bought one and there's only one
way to find out doing things yourself
usually requires some sort of knowledge
or skill in order to get professional
results so how does a DIY strop that
takes literally no skill to make stand
up to the tried and true knives plus
drop block well honestly I can't tell
the difference I spent way too much time
sharpening strapping cutting faux book
paper and whittling hairs and again I
still can't tell the difference if
anything I think the DIY strop has a
slight edge unintended my DIY strop has
two sides that means if I want to I
could apply a totally different compound
to the other side or like I did here
apply grain to both sides and use the
rough side for starting and the smooth
side for finishing not to mention you
get a longer strapping surface which is
always a nice thing to have going back
to the beginning I feel like stropping
technique has a lot more to do with your
results than the strop itself under
these circumstances much in the same way
that technique on a stone means more
than the stone itself making a strop
yourself it's a great way to start
making stuff it can't get any easier and
will provide you with the tool that will
make a world a difference in your
sharpening as far as which strop is
better it really comes down to what you
want as a user if you want instant
gratification and a tool that you can
use right out of the box the strop block
is way to go if you're new to DIY
projects this is a great thing to start
on if you're an old pro well the answer
should be easy
I hope this video helps answer some
questions in regard to making your own
strop as always don't forget to like the
video subscribe and share it really
helps out the channel I really
appreciate it just want to thank you
guys for watching and I'll see you in
the next video
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