Whould you buy a strop from Spyderco?

[Gunslinger]

yes

[A.P.F.]

Likely not. What would I do with all of my old belts?

[KardinalSyn]

I might consider it but still a noob in the world of sharpening.

I also noticed that the suede pouches for stones could be used for stropping. Can someone who has them explain whether one needs any other pastes for that kind of stropping as per the Spyderco documentation.

[chuck_roxas45]

I might consider it but still a noob in the world of sharpening.

I also noticed that the suede pouches for stones could be used for stropping. Can someone who has them explain whether one needs any other pastes for that kind of stropping as per the Spyderco documentation.

I'd say compound makes a big difference KS.

[KardinalSyn]

I'd say compound makes a big difference KS.

Thanks Chuck. Yep, it would. I am imagining in my minds eye how the small particles in the paste polish the knife as it glides through the strop. That one took three minutes to render.

I would still like to know how Spyderco documentation instructs the owner to engage in stropping using those suede pouches. I mean, it won't be practical to lather diamond paste on something that goes back in ones pocket.

[chuck_roxas45]

Thanks Chuck. Yep, it would. I am imagining in my minds eye how the small particles in the paste polish the knife as it glides through the strop. That one took three minutes to render.

I would still like to know how Spyderco documentation instructs the owner to engage in stropping using those suede pouches. I mean, it won't be practical to lather diamond paste on something that goes back in ones pocket.

I actually put diamond paste on the inside of the leather belt that I wore before. I also have a piece of leather with diamond paste in my wallet. I wind up using the piece in my wallet to polish the engagement surfaces on the gun parts for my friends though. They think it's my skill that gives them a smoother trigger than what they can get on wet/dry.

[gaj999]

No. They're too easy and cheap to make. I'd rather spend the money on a new knife.

Gordon

[KardinalSyn]

Good one Chuck.

Gaj999, I also think the same. Only go against the norm if my gain through purchase is far greater.

Anyone out there with one of them suede pouches, to comment on the product documentation please?

[toomzz]

No, I would make one myself. A good strop can be belt-like, flexible, but also fixed on on a woodblock. I have experimented rather well making strops and the good dimensions for a strop are 1,5 inch by about 6 inches in length. I made two doublestuff pouches out of leather with on the inside of the flap a strop of 2 inch by 5 inch which works well. I presented one to Sal in Amsterdam last month :-)) A definete yes for stropping non-stainless steels!!

[JD Spydo]

A strop is nothing more than a piece of good leather for polishing, not a magical wonder tool even if treated with abrasives.

I would look, but most likely would not buy.

Developing a strop system that delivers consistent results is an interesting idea, but the form of any such system evades me at this point in time.

Brother "dbcad" I can appreciate where you are coming from>> however don't for one second think that as innovative and immaginative as the Great Spyder Factory is that they couldn't literally re-invent the wheel so to speak if challenged to do so. I truly believe that if Spyderco was to introduce their own version of a "strop" to their already super line up of sharpening equipment it would be a beefed up, improvised sharpening tool taken to a new level. Just like the Strop I got from Garrett Wade a while back they made one that gives ( bends inward) when applying pressure that I discovered truly makes a big difference and works faster.

Truly I believe that Spyderco might really fool you with what they might just come up with. I have no doubt that they have already given thought to how they could improve a sharpening aid that has been with us since the introduction of the straight razor. Hey just look at what they have done with cutlery at every sector they have taken to market.

They actually already do have one strop and most people don't know it. The leather case that comes with the "DOUBLESTUFF" sharpening stone has been an ideal small strop for me and I've had great luck using it on folders. It's a very high quality leather they use on the DOUBLESTUFF case.

What I'm saying is this>> don't sell Spyderco short because they truly have the wit to improve on anything they make.

[jackknifeh]

I agree with JD about a strop from Spyderco. I think it would be a quality product and worth buying. I do prefer to make my own though.

Wilderness Survivor started a thread the other day about a "strop bat". I liked what he asked about. It is $35 and well worth it. However, since i already had everything except the leather I spent $16.50 on leather and made one. 1.5" wide x 10" long leather strips glued to the sides of a 2x2 piece of wood. I carved a handle at one end. I wish I had a handle at both ends now. Using 28 micron diamond paste on one side then 14 then 5 micron and finally DMT 1 micron diamond paste on the 4th side. I've used this for a few days. And I think it's a great idea.

Buy the strop bat that Wilderness found or make your own. The single strop with 4 different grits is great. Choose your own paste of any grit you want. You can get diamond paste of many different grits on ebay for a very good price. Less than 25% of what the DMT pastes cost. I already had the DMT paste so I didn't get any very fine grit cheap paste. I'm sure the paste that comes on the strop bat is good or you can buy one with no paste.

The one strop with 4 different grits will polish and put a razor edge on an edge easier and faster than anything I've used so far. Of course you can have seperate ones. It's the multiple grits that I love.

Jack