[bcarvings]

Hi,
Is there a stone that can be used for both v-tools, and guages? Also where can I buy it. And my book said to use sheep skin, or something like that, that I can't get for stropping. What else can I use to strop the inside of v-tools, and guages? Thanks again

[squbrigg]

For stroping the inside of V-tools and gouges I find the Stroping Kit from Flexcut splendid. Inexpensive, all kinds of shapes for a variety of gouges and V-tools, and a nice flat unit for the outside edge.

Bob

[Paul_Guraedy]

Unless they have been chipped or such, I do not use a stone on my tools. I do strop them very often using a homemade strop. I took a thick piece of leather and glued it to a board (about 2 inches wide). Then impregnated it with yellowstone. I allowed the leather to extend slighly beyond the edge of the board. This is for the inside of gouges and v tools. I am attaching a couple of pics of two of my strops (made from old leather and wood).

[Kenny_S]

I have the flexcut and the home made strops. All work great. Yellow stone is used by rubbing it on the leather on three of the strops with jeweler's rouge(RED) on another and they work equally as good also. Like Paul, the leather on one is extented slighhtly over the edge for inside of the V's. Also have leather wheels (wide flat and V shape) I use at home.

The home made one have the leather rough side up and glued with E6000 but Elmers(yellow) will work ok. I have made gouge strops of various sizes out of dowll rods of various sizes with leather glued to them also. But the easiest strop for inside of gouges is plain old dowell rod with either yellow stone or Jeweler's rouge(RED). Plain old hard piece of wood and yellow stone will work also. Just have to work a little harder at it.

[big_Wayne_P]

I habe several strops that i have made
I also have the Flexcut slip strop

It does work well for stropping most gouges V tools Veiners

It is available at most of the Tool suppliers

Also there are several different stones
Some shaped on an angle
Also available at most tool suppliers

All of my stones are flat and i have had them for 20 or more years
I did just buy a cheap hand held diamond stone at Wal Mart for about $5

I have used it on some older tools I Have

You should not have to Hone that often
and a good stropping should be fine

A good flat leather strop and maybe the Flexcut slip strop

If your tools should get to the point of needing to be honed
If you are not good at it, you will damage your tools
Find someone who is good at honing carving tools
or send them out and pay to get them sharpened

If you are in a local carving club
Someone in the club should be able to teach you how to hone
your gouges

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

If your a cheapskate like me, take a scrap piece of basswood and carve it to fit the inside profiles of your tools, load it with yellowstone and strop away. You end up with the same thing as the flexcut slipstrop minus the flat leather piece. To duplicate that, do as has been suggested above. Any piece of leather will work. For honing the inside of your tools (which is rarely required) buy a good quality slip stone. Honestly, this early in your sharpening career, I don't really recommend honing the inside bevels of your tools at all. Using a professional sharpening service (such as Little Shavers) on the rare occassions it is needed is probably best. There are reasons for honing the inside bevels, but it is an operation that is easilly messed up, unlike the outside bevels.

[big_Wayne_P]

Rick at little Shavers sells stones

If you think that you need the stones
check out his online catalog and look under sharpening

http://www.littleshavers.com/index.html


only reason I have had to hone any of my tools is because
I have acquired some good older tools
Some needed a little grinding and honing

Your knives should need honing long before your tools do

If you bought good quality tools to begin with then they should have
been sharp when new and only need an ocassional stropping

The cheaper ones like what is being sold regularly on EBay is a different story

[bcarvings]

Hi,
Does the flexcut slipstrop come with a peice of leather to put over the plastic to strop? Or is that slipstrop made of something besides plastic, and doesn't require leather over it? My tools are Ramelson, or "Harmen" tools, they should only need stropping right?

And thanks for the pics, but I think I'm going to spend the $13, and get the slipstrop. Also plain_old_edd can you strop on wood? Thank you

[Mitchell]

bcarvings,

The flexcut slipstrop is made of compressed wood with a flat piece of leather on one side and another strip on the other side that's concaved for the inside of larger gouges.

It depends on the condition of your tool on whether you need to strop or "grind". If it is a touch up or to fix a very light scratch, stropping is ususally enough. If there is a heavy nick in the blade, or the cutting angle has been rounded from use, then you may need to reshape the angle of the blade on a stone.

You CAN use a piece of wood for stropping gouges. It works well. Use your tool to cut the profile into the wood and then add the compound. Note: make your cuts with the direction of the grain. You can strop the inside and outside with this "tool".

[bcarvings]

Hi,
After looking at the flexcut slipstrop in the picture sent by Big_Wyne I don't think it will be able to strop my small veiner. I'm just going to use my knife. I have more control with my knife anyway. Also I'm posting another topic I could use some help on. Thank you