[Jukemaster]

Wow!! Thanks a million to everyone!! I checked back today hoping for atleast one post to get some advice from and I was awestricken!!! That's awesome! Great advice. So sandpaper and strop seem to be the way to go. I actually have a very small strop, about 1" X 4", this will have to do for now. And Callynne mentioned strop "compound", I have a small "vial/tube" of this also, but it is almost rock hard??? Is it supposed to be like that, or just hardened due to age??? As for the sand paper, I would assume it would be very fine grit, 500/1000/2000??? What does everyone use to start off with? I would of never thought of using sandpaper on steel like that, would of thought it would damage it, but now that I think about it, makes sense. I haven't looked any of this info up yet, will do that here shortly, but I am excited to learn anything I can here. (Especially the part about using rather inexpensive sand paper compared to expensive sharpening stones) (Although I would imagine the constant purchasing costs of sand paper can add up eventually, tangent, sorry) But Thanks Again to all! I am eager to search through the site and see others ideas/work. Nice meeting all of you, Sincerely IT3

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

the grit of the paper depends on you, your knives, and how rough you are on them...I have 400, 800, 1200 and 2000.......if the ding is worse than that I go to a diamond, or my burke or even a coarser paper.....I do have a couple of stones that I got when I first started chip carving but rarely use them.......just my opinion, ....lots of ways to skin a cat!

[Kenny_S]

Diamond hones and just started the sandpaper. I perfer the diamonds right now

[Mitchell]

I use 220 grit paper and leather. My leather is actually a belt on a sander, so it really saves me time and allows me to use the coarser paper. Most recommend to use finer paper and at different stages ("scary sharp").

The compound that you have should be okay - some brands are hard and "cakey".

[Just Carving]

Ditto on the 220 grit paper for sharpening, and leather strop with white compound. If I'm making a new blade or fixing one, I use an 80 grit fiber disk on hand held grinder in a vise. Just take it slow--hold for a second or so, take away for a second or so--and dip the blade in water maybe every other grind to keep it from getting too hot--you don't want to change the color of the metal. But with some time, patience and a little work, you can use 80 grit paper on a smooth, flat surface like a piece of masonite or glass instead of using a grinder. Then you won't need to worry about heating the blade.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

220 is a bit coarse to go from there to the strop...after that I have 400, 800, 1200 and 2000 and the blade shines like a new mirror even before the strop

[Mitchell]

220 may sound like it's too coarse, but having the leather powered makes up for it. As Bob indicates, some people use 80 and go straight to the leather. The concern is with generating too much heat and you have to be careful.

It is better to take your time and using the different grits helps keep the sharpening process on pace (for lack of better description).

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I'm glad all I have to worry about is two stones and a strop.

[AlArchie]

This is just a guess, but I think that "sandpaper" mentioned in wet or dry emery cloth or emery paper. check the automotiver stores that sell paint if you can't find it in the hardware store.

And you can use a piece of crocus cloth glued to a piece of wood for a strop if you can't find a suitable piece of leather. Works just as well....the crocus cloth grit is the same as jewelers rouge.

Al

[Callynne]

Al's right, the 'sandpaper' is automotive wet/dry sandpaper. It doesn't look or feel like what one would think of, when thinking of sandpaper.

I get mine at Wal-Mart, in the automotive section. A piece lasts a long time, I carve a lot and might go through a piece or two a year!

I only use one grit, the 2000. I started out using 1000, only because they didn't have the 2000 at that time. I prefer the 2000, 1000 will work.

As to the stropping compound, I don't know about the others but what I do is use an inexpensive 'nutmeg' grater I picked up at the dollar store. I just grate some of it onto the strop, and using an old butter knife just 'butter' it into the strop.

Hope this helps! Deborah