Making a strop

[Diamond G Knives]

Have a Strop question.

Is the slick side of the leather used, or the suede side? Is the leather treated with anything to help hold the compound? What are the most common compounds used? I was planning on using green and white.

Thanks and God Bless
Mike

 

[silver_pilate]

Typically, the compound is rubbed into the nap of the leather, so the fuzzy side is used. The strop I have is loaded with green rouge and works really well.

FWIW, here's the strop I have:

http://www.knivesplus.com/KP-STROP8-STROPBLOCK.html

These strops are very good, and the link has some good info that may help you in making your own. From the link:

Chap leather works well. Contact cement the leather to a base block, then scrape the flesh side of the leather with a razor to raise the nap. After that, you work in green rouge that has been melted in olive oil to a thick consistency using a hard rolled shop towel until the leather can't take any more. Let it soak in/set up for a couple of days under a low-heat lamp, and re-scrape the nap to remove the excess.

--nathan

 

[Diamond G Knives]

Thanks Nathan.
I was wondering how they "loaded" the strop. Ive been rubbing the compound on by hand with limited success.

God Bless
Mike