3 Stropping Tips Beginners Must Know (Knife Sharpening)

Summary

This video offers three essential tips for effective knife sharpening through stropping. It advises not to over-strap, as refining the edge should require minimal passes with a quality diamond compound. It warns against edge rounding caused by excessive pressure on leather strops and emphasizes the importance of using the right stropping compound. Chromium oxide is criticized for its rapid breakdown and inconsistency, while diamond compound is praised for its durability and consistent grit size, despite its higher cost. A bonus tip is included on stropping direction to maintain scratch pattern alignment, ensuring a refined, sharp edge.

Takeaways

• 😀 Provide tips for better stropping.
• 💡 Don't strap too much; use around 10 passes per side.
• ✋ Avoid rounding the edge by using light pressure.
• 🔍 Use the correct stropping compound for effectiveness.
• 🟩 Chromium oxide compound is cheap but less effective.
• 💎 Diamond compound is more effective but expensive.
• 🧴 Different forms of diamond compound: sprays, emulsions, pastes.
• ⏳ Diamond compound lasts longer and maintains consistent grit.
• ❌ Avoid cheap diamond compounds with inconsistent grit sizes.
• 🔄 Strop in the same direction as the sharpening scratch pattern.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video?

The main issue discussed in the video is dealing with the problem of ineffective stropping due to improper techniques and materials.

What are the three tips provided for better stropping?

The three tips for better stropping are: 1) Don't strap too much, 2) Don't round over the edge, and 3) Use the correct stropping compound.

Why should you not strap too much?

Strapping too much can lead to the edge not becoming more refined after several passes, indicating that more time should be spent minimizing the burr on the stone instead.

What is the importance of not rounding over the edge during stropping?

Not rounding over the edge is important because it ensures the knife retains its sharpness and bite, which is essential for tasks like paper cutting and hair whittling.

Why is using the correct stropping compound crucial?

Using the correct stropping compound is crucial because it affects the longevity and effectiveness of the stropping process, as well as the quality of the edge being refined.

What are the two main types of stropping compounds discussed in the video?

The two main types of stropping compounds discussed are chromium oxide compound and diamond compound.

What are the downsides of using chromium oxide as a stropping compound?

The downsides of using chromium oxide include its fast breakdown, inconsistency in grit sizes, and the need to reapply frequently, which can lead to a buildup of ineffective wax goop on the strop.

What are the advantages of using diamond compound over chromium oxide?

The advantages of using diamond compound include its consistent grit sizes, longevity as it doesn't break down like chromium oxide, and the fact that a single application can last a very long time.

What is the recommended approach to applying diamond compound to a strop?

The recommended approach is to apply a small amount of diamond compound to the surface, spread it around evenly, let it dry, and then strop away.

What is the significance of stropping in the same direction as the scratch pattern from the sharpening stone?

Stropping in the same direction as the scratch pattern ensures that the scratch pattern is aligned and refined, which is especially important for coarse grit sharpening.

What is the bonus tip provided for stropping direction in relation to the sharpening stone's scratch pattern?

The bonus tip is to strop in the opposite direction of the sharpening stone's scratch pattern, from tip to heel, to maintain proper alignment and refine the scratch pattern.

Outlines

00:00

🔪 Stropping Knife Sharpening Tips

This paragraph discusses the frustration with increasing spam calls and introduces a video aimed at providing tips for better stropping to maintain a sharp knife edge. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not over-stropping, using proper stropping techniques, and selecting the right stropping compound. The summary of the tips includes: 1) Limiting the number of passes on the strop to refine the edge effectively, 2) Avoiding edge rounding by applying light pressure, and 3) Choosing the appropriate compound to maintain a sharp edge. The paragraph also explains the differences between chromium oxide and diamond compounds, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of each.

05:00

💎 Choosing the Right Stropping Compound

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of stropping compounds, emphasizing the importance of using a quality diamond compound over chromium oxide for its longevity and consistent grit size. It details the longevity of diamond compounds, which can last over a year with moderate use before reapplication is necessary. The paragraph also addresses the issue of compound quality, cautioning against cheap alternatives that may contain more filler than actual abrasive particles. Additionally, it explains the significance of stropping in the same direction as the scratch pattern from the sharpening stone to maintain alignment and refine rather than disrupt the existing pattern. The speaker concludes by inviting viewers to ask questions in the comments and encourages likes and subscriptions, mentioning the challenges of running a YouTube channel without home internet access.

Keywords

💡Stropping

Stropping is the process of refining and polishing the edge of a knife to achieve a sharp cutting edge. In the video, it is the main focus, as the speaker provides tips for better stropping practice. The script mentions that if the edge isn't feeling sharp before stropping, it won't feel sharp after, emphasizing the importance of this technique in knife sharpening.

💡Burr

A burr is a thin ridge of metal formed on the edge of a knife during the sharpening process. The video script suggests minimizing the burr on the stone before moving on to stropping, as this is crucial for achieving a refined edge. The term is used to describe a common issue that needs to be addressed for effective sharpening.

💡Diamond compound

Diamond compound is a type of abrasive material used for sharpening that contains diamond particles. The script differentiates between diamond and chromium oxide compounds, highlighting the benefits of diamond compound, such as consistent grit size and longevity, which makes it a preferred choice for stropping by the speaker.

💡Chromium oxide compound

Chromium oxide compound is another type of sharpening abrasive, often used in a wax bar form. The video script points out its disadvantages, such as fast breakdown and ineffectiveness after a few passes, making it less ideal for stropping compared to diamond compounds.

💡Grit

Grit refers to the size of the abrasive particles in a compound, which affects the coarseness or fineness of the sharpening process. The script discusses the importance of grit size in stropping compounds, noting that diamond compounds typically have a tighter grit tolerance and are more consistent than chromium oxide compounds.

💡Edge rounding

Edge rounding is a concern mentioned in the script where the edge of the knife becomes slightly rounded over due to excessive pressure during stropping on leather. This can reduce the knife's cutting performance, even if it still feels sharp, by eliminating the desired 'bite' or sharpness that is sought after.

💡Leather strop

A leather strop is a tool used in conjunction with a stropping compound to refine and polish the edge of a knife. The script warns against applying too much pressure on a leather strop, as it can lead to edge rounding, and suggests using light pressure instead.

💡Cutting compounds

Cutting compounds are substances used on a strop to aid in the sharpening process by smoothing and polishing the knife's edge. The video script emphasizes the importance of using the correct cutting compounds and letting them do the work, rather than relying on pressure alone.

💡S110V steel

S110V is a high hardness, high carbide steel mentioned in the script as an example of a material that can be particularly challenging to sharpen with chromium oxide due to its hardness. The speaker suggests that diamond compound is better suited for such high-end steels.

💡Grit range

Grit range refers to the range of particle sizes within a compound. The script discusses the typical grit ranges for chromium oxide and diamond compounds, noting that the latter offers a more consistent and accurate grit size, which is crucial for achieving a refined edge.

💡Scratch pattern

The scratch pattern is the direction and arrangement of scratches left on the knife's edge during sharpening. The script advises stropping in the same direction as the scratch pattern from the sharpening stone to maintain alignment and avoid disrupting the refining process.

Highlights

The video provides three tips for better stropping to improve knife sharpening.

Tip 1: Don't strap too much; refine the edge with around 10 passes per side for optimal results.

Quality diamond drop is recommended for stropping to ensure the edge feels more refined after a few passes.

Minimizing the burr on the stone is crucial before moving on to stropping.

Tip 2: Avoid edge rounding over by applying too much pressure when stropping on leather.

Light pressure and letting the compound do the work is advised to prevent edge rounding.

Tip 3: Use the correct stropping compound to ensure the knife maintains its sharpness.

Chromium oxide compound is cheap but breaks down quickly and is less effective.

Diamond compound is more expensive but offers consistent grit sizes and doesn't break down, lasting longer.

Different forms of diamond compound include sprays, emulsions, and pastes.

Quality diamond compounds are typically within 1 micron of the stated grit size.

Cheap diamond compounds may have a wider grit range and include larger particles.

Strapping in the same direction as the sharpening stone's scratch pattern is important for maintaining alignment.

Strapping across the scratch pattern can disrupt the refining process and is not recommended.

The video offers a bonus tip on stropping direction in relation to the sharpening process.

The presenter discusses the importance of using quality compounds for effective stropping.

The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to ask questions in the comments and a reminder to like and subscribe.

Transcripts

so I wanted to do a quick video to give

you

excuse me serious

spam calls are getting ridiculous so I'm

going to do a quick video and give you

guys some tips to help answer some

questions that I get all the time in

regards to stroppy now all of these tips

sort of run together but we're going to

separate them for organization's sake

and for the better YouTube title so

without further Ado here's three tips

for better stropping tip number one

don't strap too much

if you find yourself coming off the

stone and they're doing hundreds of

passes on the strop and nothing much has

changed you need to go back to the stone

with a proper strop in correct compound

you should be able to refine the edge up

to that strapping grit with around 10

passes per side or so maybe even less

with a quality diamonds drop which I'll

talk more about in a minute if the edge

isn't feeling more refined after a

handful of passes it's likely you need

to spend more time minimizing the Burr

on the stone

my favorite way to do this is with super

light alternating passes on your final

Stone before moving on to the straw if

the edge doesn't feel sharp before

strapping it won't feel sharp after

tip number two don't round Over The Edge

Edge roundover is a very real concern

when strapping on leather it happens

when too much pressure is applied when

stropping and the leather folds up over

the fine apex causing it to round over

slightly as demonstrated by my super

fine artwork

even on the densest hardest leather Edge

rounding can still occur if too much

pressure is applied now even with the

rounded over Apex the knife will still

feel sharp it may still cut paper just

fine but it won't have that bite or hair

whittling Edge so many of us are chasing

so rather than pushing the knife into

the straw use very light pressure and

let the cutting compounds of your choice

do the work the leather is just there to

hold the compound in place

speaking of compound

tip number three

use the correct strapping compound now

let's talk real quickly about the

different types of compound the most

common are broken into two categories

chromium oxide compound and Diamond

compound chromium oxide is a naturally

creamed mineral and can be bought in a

powdered form or more commonly in a wax

suspended bar the bar is then rubbed

onto a substrate like leather which

holds it in place and can be used as a

Polish or a stropping compound

the pauses of chromium oxide is that

it's cheap and that's about all the

pluses the downsides of chromium oxide

are many it typically breaks down very

fast after only a few passes on a strop

it will start to break down into smaller

and smaller pieces making it more and

more ineffective causing the need to

reapply almost every time you use your

straw

this can cause a quick buildup of an

ineffective wax goop on the surface of

the straw making it feel gummy and again

causing it to be much less effective and

speaking of particles chromium oxide

grit ranges are typically stated as

being in the one to three Micron range

this is very optimistic in my experience

with an educated guess I would say that

it's more likely in the one to eight

Micron range with some very coarse

particles maybe up to 30 Micron also

thrown in there for good measure this is

based on comparing the surface finishes

to an accurately graded Diamond compound

the problems with chromium oxide are

even worse with high hardness High

carbide Steels like s110v if you grew up

in the 40s and the words high carbon

still have that marketing ring to it and

chromium oxide is still probably for you

foreign

s well Diamond compound does just about

everything better except it's more

expensive diamond compound typically

comes in three forms sprays emulsions

and pastes

you typically will only see spray in

less than one micron sizes due to the

fact that the larger Diamond particles

will clog the spray nozzle

sprays are basically emulsions in a

spray form emulsions are usually an

oil-based fluid with diamond powder

mixed in you would then apply some drops

to your strap apply it evenly to the

entire surface let it dry and then strop

away

Pace are the same concept usually an

oil-based paste with diamond powder of

the specific grit mixed in add a small

amount to the surface spread it around

let it dry and you're good to go the

pluses of diamond are that it doesn't

break down like chromium oxide the grit

sizes remain consistent over unlimited

stroppings and a single application will

last a very long time I personally had

strops go over a year with moderate use

before loading is a problem in

reapplication is necessary now speaking

of grit sizes a quality diamond compound

is typically plus or minus 1 Micron from

the stated grit so a three Micron paste

will have grit ranges from two to four

microns in size the biggest downside of

diamond compounds is that the quality is

a real concern Nothing in life is free

so there's one dollar Diamond compounds

you see on Amazon are going to be a lot

more compound than actual Diamond

causing you to add a lot more than

necessary to get the diamond

concentration high enough to even do

anything let alone give you a good

strapping experience also the tighter

the grit tolerance the more expensive it

is cheaper Diamond compounds will have a

much higher grit range that cheap one

dollar one micron compound is more like

a one to six Micron with 30 plus Micron

particles thrown in

so what is all this talk about compound

have to do with stropping well maybe

you're doing everything right deburring

correct angles pressure good leather but

adding a crappy green chromium oxide

compound or a one dollar amazon special

Diamond compound and expecting hair

whittling results

and not getting them

bonus tip

when you're strapping it's important to

strap in the same direction as the

scratch pattern from your sharpening

stone so if you sharpen from heel to tip

on the stone you need to be strapping

from tip to heel on the strot this keeps

the scratch pattern aligned and is

especially important for coarse grit

sharpening do not go heel to tip on the

strap as you will be strapping across

the scratch pattern you are refining the

scratch pattern that is already there

not changing the scratch pattern to a

finer scratch pattern if that makes

sense now what if you're a weirdo and

sharpen back and forth and just leave a

straight line scratch pattern

well then just drop straight across

and hopefully you can see the difference

here between following a straight

scratch pattern and a curved scratch

pattern

we really barely scratched the surface

here when it comes to strapping and

compounds pun intended and yeah we could

get into this and talk about it all day

long in a whole series of videos but for

now we'll just leave it at that if you

have any questions ask me in the

comments and I will try my best to

answer them please hit the like button

it really helps out if you hit that like

button and consider subscribing if you

found this video helpful I'm going to

try and post more regularly now at least

now that I have internet at my house I

haven't had internet in my house for the

past like three years or something like

that so it really helps running a

YouTube channel when you have internet

anyway thank you guys for watching and

we'll see you in the next video