leather for stropping

[Boondock]

Hello, my name is Dave and this is my first post.

I am awaiting delivery of my first carving knife (a Mike Shipley) and have turned my attention to finding a strop. I like the idea of making my own strop, and looked at several leather-crafting websites for raw leather.

I found this auction on ebay for 10 pieces of undyed, 2.75 X 7.50 inch, vegetable tanned cowhide.

I was thinking about cutting wood to match the size, and gluing a piece on both sides.

I like the idea that the leather is fairly wide (I would like to use the strop for both carving tools, pocket and kitchen knives.

Does this leather seem ok to make a strop?

I ordered "Complete Guide to Sharpening" by Leonard Lee, but I'm waiting on it to arrive too. Does anybody know if it go into any detail about leathers used for stropping?

I am also looking for a stone. I like the combo Norton Waterstone with 1000/4000 grit, would this be acceptable for a general purpose all around stone?

Last question. In my local Walmart, they have kevlar/stainless gloves in the sporting goods/fishing section. Can these gloves work for carving?

[RUssL.]

The short answer to your questions is "Yes".
I have the Leonard Lee book and it's great, if not a tad overwhelming.
I believe he talks about stropping, but it's been a while since I actually looked through the book and I'm at work right now.
...Like I said though; the leather, Norton waterstone & WalMart glove are all a "yes".
As for gloving, for some time I have used a cut resistant glove (like the one you are talking about) with a leather, hardware store glove over it for extra insurance . Those kevlars and the like are "cut resistant" not puncture-proof or cut-proof.

Good luck. You are off to a great start in sharpening.

[A_Swope]

For the strop I just cut up an old belt and glued two pieces beside each other so it would be wider. The glove I use is just a cotton glove with some sort of rubber like material on the palm which is very cut resistant and even stab resistant as long as there isn't much force behind the stab. Good choice of knife.

[TreeWizard]

I bought a pair of leather welders arm protectors from Harbor Fright for around $6 and have made strops for myself and at least 8 other people. Just make sure you use contact cement to glue them on with, regular glue doesn't work as well.

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Dave.

You can pick up a very inexpensive belt at a thrift store for a dollar or two and use it to make several strops.

Good luck on your bike trip. How long will you be on the road?

[Boondock]

thanks all for responding. I know for a fact, that I have an old leather belt "somewhere". I have dug around for the last two days and I can't find it. I'll make a trip to the goodwill to see what they have, but I still might buy those pieces of leather on ebay because they are so cheap, maybe cheaper than a belt.

Treewizzard, I have contact cement and Gorilla Glue, so I appreciate the tip. Contact cement it is. Maybe I should "rough up" the glue-side of the leather with some 220 sandpaper?

Ron T, my whole interest in carving has just recently developed, mostly because I am looking for something to do with my hands during my rest days of my bicycle trip. If I bring any "hobbies" with me they must be light weight and small. I'm bringing my ukulele and my birding binoculars and now a carving knife, and I sorta have my eye on a FlexCut handle and one or two interchangeable gouges ( I figure I can get the most bang-for-the-buck with them "weight-wise"). I plan to be on the bike for 2 or 3 years just rambling around the US. I recently retired from the military and then got a job, then got layed off, then got another job, then got layed off again. So I have plenty of free time to goof off.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Seems like a good price for that leather, as long as it is not to soft. For a new knife you should not need a stone, just a strop with compound. Good luck and welcome.

Dave

[Dan S]

I bought my leather at a local swapmeet. It's hard as a brick and works great. Colst about 1.00.

Good luck,
Dan

[Riverman]

Hi Dave, welcome to the group!
I used one of my old leather belts, works great!
Bob

[Claude]

Originally Posted by Boondock

... Contact cement it is. Maybe I should "rough up" the glue-side of the leather with some 220 sandpaper?

Not necessary with contact cement.

Originally Posted by Boondock

...I sorta have my eye on a FlexCut handle and one or two interchangeable gouges ( I figure I can get the most bang-for-the-buck with them "weight-wise"). ...

My recommendation would be the handle with 3 blades: a 3 to 6mm V tool, a 10mm #3, and a 2 or 3mm #11. You might also consider getting the Flexcut slipstrop to keep them all sharp...

Claude