Stropping for the first time ?

[mpounders]

One of my Christmas presents contained the hubs and pulleys (from Old Texas WoodCarvers)to rebuild my power honer. This is based on the Burke sharpener that is available commercially. It is 15” wide (24” at the top), 11” deep, and 19” at the top of the wheels. I used a 1/2 HP 1725 rpm motor that is reduced to about 300rpm with 6” pulley. The discs are 8” x 1” and two are covered in sandpaper with 120 and 220 grit. The other wheel is covered in leather and used with honing compound and a 6 inch spiral-sewn buffing wheel completes the outfit. I was very pleased with how smoothly the wheels run after truing them up on my disk sander. The sandpaper is a little aggressive at the moment, but should be fine after it wears a bit. Once I have the profile and edge like I want it, I polish the ouside to a mirror finish and remove the wire edge on the inside with the buffing wheel. And it is located right behind me when I carve, although I am forced to stand up to use it! My instructor at a seminar used one, so I got to try it first and got instructed in how to use it. Works great.