A few years ago I ordered some wide leather I think from McMaster-Carr, some green honing compound, and was stropping chisels when I was doing detail work. But after a while I started to experience a slight rounding of the bevel’s tip because the leather is compressible. More work was needed on the 800 grit water stone when I honed again to flatten the bevel and raise a burr. So I stopped honing.
This morning I was paring some mahogany end grain. With a chisel freshly sharpened and honed to 6000 grit, some force was still needed to move the chisel through the wood. For grins, I retrieved the leather strap, made four strokes on the bevel and one on the back. The chisel was significantly easier to push through the end grain.
Does anyone have experience with stropping? Can one strop too much?
Thanks.
Replies
Don,
I don't strop, I buff, mainly a time issue.
The slight rounding at the bevel's tip, actually helps management of the chisel, consider it as a necessary micro bezel.
Don 6000 grit? holy smoke man. And then you stropped---and it sounds as if the chisel got sharper. This looks to me to be an example of "tearing the ring out of it", with that 6000 grit-and yet by stropping it still got sharper.
I just can't see the need for this obssession with all these micro fine grits- hone properly with one decent stone or plate and go for it. If you are using an abrasive timber, every now and again hit the strop to maintain a working edge.It's not as if a strop is going to cause a huge rounded edge for a bevel....you'll need to hone before that situation could ever arise anyway.What is definitely not good is a bevel or roundover on the chisel back.
It's also possible that the wax which carries the abrasive grit on your strop will have lubed the chisel-making you think it is working better.
So the moral of the story is-keep stropping but don't go too long before hitting the (reasonably fine) stone again.
I am not ranting-just being honest.
Philip.
Okay, it may sound anal but in actuallity it's not and it does work. I don't notice any improvement if I strop directly after using the #5000, however, if I've used the plane a while a light stropping is noticeable...and I don't remove the chip breaker to do it...so it really is a 30 second deal. I suspect I'm really just removing the wire that has formed ...kinda like the butcher does with his steel.
I don't see much need to take all he planes to #5000, usually I stop at #1000...but for the finish steps it's fun.
BTW, the #1000, #5000 are the manufacturer names(sharpton), I have no idea what the actual grits are..
honed to 6000 grit.. DANG... WOW..
I have never went THAT far! Good for you...
I use a 'strop' Sort of... Just a hunk of good leather I got from a shoemaker (Yes they still around)..
Fixed to a wooden block that is screwed to my 'workin' bench.. Not my so called good bench...
I just use Rottenstone rubbed into the leather with linseed oil..
I just 'strop' by edges when I feel it may need it during work..
Just a 'bit'..
Seems to work OK for me but not sure ANYTHING keep your tool to 6000!
EDIT:: and it sounds as if the chisel got sharper.
Yep.. Breath on the edge and you can hear little screams from the microbes as they pass 'in half' across the edge....
Edited 9/11/2005 10:32 am ET by WillGeorge
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