[Irishman]

I'm on the search for a mechanical strop for sharpening my tools. Any suggestions/recommendations from carvers who presently use one and are satisfied with it would be appreciated.
Patrick

[AlArchie]

There are all sorts of professional strop/honing devices out there. One of the easiest to find and use is simply either a hard felt or muslin wheel, attached to a motor shaft. Apply some honing or polishing compoud and you are all set. Most of the instructors that I have dealt with or seen use this setup in their classes for quick touch up strops on their student's and their own tools. That's basically what I use and it works just great. My regular setup is 3400 RPM and I've built a slower 1000 RPM one that works just as well. Personal opinion is that any RPM from a standard 3450 or 1725 RPM motor will work just fine.

If you have a washing machine or similar motor, pick up an arbor for the shaft at the hardware store, and a felt or cloth wheel. Jewelers rough or tripoli compound from the same store and you are set up for probably under 20 bucks.

You can pick up a bushed double ended mandrel for around 30 dollars and put two wheels on and a reduction pulley in the center and pretty well set the rpm you want.

Al

[Kenny_S]

I am using two leather wheels chucked in a couple of drilles and fastened dowm with home made strappings. Solid. One has a 5 inch by 2 inch wheel and the other is for Vtools. Works good. Use the White bar compound I got years ago when I was doing business with Sears and the gold or yellow bar from Woodcraft.
beats the 20 times on one side and 20 times on the other side hand stroping. However, I do use several hand made strops with the yellow/gold bar compound when I am traveling. Will take the latter to a carving class next month.

[Mitchell]

I use a Delta belt sander with a leather belt. I think it's 42". Works great. Actually, I use a sandpaper belt for shaping too. (Be VERY careful of heat.)

I don't like the muslin wheel so much for knives due to safety issues. I do use it for gouges though.

[Mark N. Akers]

Mitchell:
Thought you would like to know that Dennie Nuebauer is making a jig that adapts to the delta belt sanders,It is adjustable and does a awsome job on sharpening.The great part about it is you can strop the tools at the same angles you sharpening them.I have a belt sharpener from chipping away and was able to adapt it to my system.

[Irishman]

It appears that many of you make adaptations to various sharpening/turning devises. I'm not mechanically inclines so I am leaning towards a product specifically designed for stropping. Having said that, I may connect with my friends and toss out these ideas and see what they come up with. Thanks for the feedback.
Patrick

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I use the commercial leather wheel on one side of my polishing head and a hard felt wheel charged with ZAM on the other. Have my 1725 motor geared down to about one-half speed. Works out great. Very seldom do I have to break down and actually resharpen a tool.

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the tip Mark...

Irishman, the belt sander/leather belt arrangement is not anything special. You can buy the sander and belt commercially without much trouble. Plus the sander comes in handy for other projects too.

[AlArchie]

You can pick up either a high speed 3450 RPM or a low speed 1725 RPM grinder for about 8o bucks, tops. Take off the grinding wheels and substitute a leather and felt wheel and you've got a good, dependable economical setup.

Al

[MelNM]

I have an ultimate sharpener
I bought it from Chipping Away (I think thats the name) I have had it for 2 years I'm pretty please with it, for the money. It comes with a leather belt, which is the main belt I use for sharpening my tools.
Mel