cleaning strop

[DanKed]

I bet this has been answered before, but I'm having trouble finding it, so I'll just ask. I would like some information on strop cleaning. My strop has a bit of used compound build up on it and I would like to know if it is neccessary to clean it off or just add more. Any tips on how to clean it would also be helpful. Thanks in advance.

[Claude]

I use the green stuff (chromium oxide?) on my strop, and haven't cleaned it in over 5 years since I made it. Still seems to do the job just as it did with clean new compound on it... I never scrape it, just add more every now and then.

In the "little known and generally useless" category: most stropping compounds are metal oxides. Aluminum oxide (think black wet/dry sandpaper) is the third hardest (after diamond and silicon carbide) substance know. This very small particles (sub-micron) actually scrape bits of the steel off your knife when you hone it (this is why it gets mirror-like). These scraped bits are very very small and mix with the wax-based oxide on the strop. [Opinion:] Eventually, if you live long enough, you might get enough steel bits mixed in with the oxide bits that it will no longer work, but I suspect none of those living on the planet now will be alive when that happens...

You can strop you knife blade using plain old cardboard, such as the back of a pad of tablet paper. It will take longer than the same piece of cardboard with some stropping compound on it, but it will work. For my detail knife, which has a very thin and flexible blade, I use a piece of basswood with some compound rubbed on it. Works like a champ!

Here are four previous threads with this subject:
Cleaning slip strop ?
Do I clean the Strop?
Cleaning strop
clean strops

Claude

[RUssL.]

Most people seem to just leave it. If it does get in your way just scrape it off with the back edge of your knife or the side of a gouge.

I just leave it until it falls off on its own or forms a ridge along the strop & then I scrape it off with the back of a knife.

I suppose you could also use one of these:
Jantz Supply - Your source for knifemaking!

RussL.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I also just add more compound to the old compound, I don't scrape anything.

Dave

[TimberFace]

I could be imagining this but I think mine is getting better with age (about five years now) I have never cleaned or scraped it. I just continue to add more compound.
Lundy

[Kenny_S]

add more compound. I don't know if it is "right", but it works for me!

[Mottles]

OK, DanKed, so glad you brought this question and the seasoned fella's answered. You have put my mind at rest..yeah I know really??? lol Anyway I have just let the compound (yellow) build up. So sounds like it's not a big deal and the strop gets better with age. Kind of like me....tee hee.
Kathy

[Butch_Speer]

John Dunkle told me that if you're using yellowstone compound & your strop isn't black, you don't have enough on it.Said when it turns black is when it's working right. Like Claude said, it's all some kind of metal oxide so, I would think that all of it would work best after it has gotten good & black.