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Thread: razor strop coating

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    razor strop coating

    got a new razor strop at a yard sale. is there anything that i should put on it to help putting an edge on my knives?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy alfadan's Avatar
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    Jewelers rouge I think

  3. #3
    Boolit Master


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    Or stropping compound. I bought mine from Smoky Mountain Knife Works but many online retailers sell it. Comes in many grades so you'll have to experiment a bit.
    Rick

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    Boolit Grand Master

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    www.sharpeningsupplies.com
    Has some great info on strops , compounds , when and how to use them ...and they sell all the sharpening supplies you could ask for ... I thought I knew a lot about sharpening a straight razor on a strop ...
    but just reading a few articles on here "learned" me some new tricks .
    Going back over there and see what else I don't know !
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


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    Jeweler's Rouge and some good oil.
    One of my father's favorite statements: "If I say a chicken dips snuff, look under his wing for the snuffbox" How I was raised, who I am.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
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    I use jeweler's rough but there are a number of various compounds out there.

    I mainly use stropping in keeping the various knives I use in my leather work sharp.

    I made my own "Stropping boardsL. I obtained two of the large heavy duty wood paint paddles from the local paint store - the big ones used to stir 5 gallon containers. I cut two pieces of good quality harness leather and glide one hair side down and the other one hair side up to the paddles. The paddle handles make a good place to hang on to. Oil and work in the rouge - they keep the swivel knife, etc. razor sharp. Drill a hole in the handle to hang above the bench until needed.

    Just stop and think about how much "common knowledge" about the use of a razor strop has been lost since the days of when every man owned and used a straight razor. Every day knowledge that has been lost to what many call "progress". Even the art of shaving yourself with a straight razor . . . . and if you have ever tried it (I have) - you know what I'm talking about.

    porches - good luck with your new strop - you will soon have your knives razor sharp and others will be wanting you to do theirs as well!

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    I started out with a compound designed for high Carbon steel. But these days I tend to carry Stainless for EDC. It simply lasts longer, holds an edge longer.

    So I searched for a found a strop dressing bar designed for stainless steel. It certainly works great.

    My grandfather on my mom's side shaved with a straight razor and he had a strop. One of my biggest regrets is i never had a chance to learn what he knew about it. But when your in your late teens you just don't think about the fact that in your 60's you might get a strop and wish you knew more about it.
    I truly believe we need to get back to basics.

    Get right with the Lord.
    Get back to the land.
    Get back to thinking like our forefathers thought.


    May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you
    and give you His peace. Let all of the earth – all of His creation – worship and praise His name! Make His
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  8. #8
    Moderator Emeritus / Trusted loob groove dealer

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    I use Simichrome on my strop. Works great. I got mine at the local Harley shop.
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
    John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"

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  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Not just oil but neatsfoot so you don.t degrade the leather. Gramps used goose grease and red tripoli. I use stropping compund graded to the blade. A wedge takes a different strop and compound.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master OldBearHair's Avatar
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    My dad had a razor strop that got lost when we moved . I was ten years old. I think it went out the back window of the car on the trip from Lefors Texas to Wichita Falls Texas. I was really thankful that it did not get replaced. Safety razor took its place.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    Our dad’s accidentally got lost behind a plaster wall during a bathroom remodel. After that he switched to a 1 x 2.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master

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    When I bought my foredom flex shaft machine I got a bar of blue rouge ( for jewelry and precision parts on paper backed by a flat plate it really does a good job of finishing a edge to a smooth mirror bright edge. I have used several materials for this over the years. Diamond compound, red rouge,auto rubbing compound, simichrome, Flitz, the blue rouge mentioned, plain paper, All works but is very slow to finish.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check