Using a Stropping Board

[russell4cook]

Hi all,

I've got a 3 inch wide stropping board which I got from "The Classic Edge."

I've used it twice, and the way I used it was to place it on a table, with the surface of the strop parallel to the table surface.

It seemed to go OK, and was certainly enjoyable, and I was wondering if anyone had any comments about how to best use these boards e.g. parallel to the table or inclined as with a paddle strop.

[Tarkus]

Set it up for what feels right to you. There is no generic answer for this question as there is no right or wrong answer. Try different things and you will feel what works best for you. I use a type of paddle strop and fabricated a stand to fix to the wall. A buddy had the same unit and set his up so he can sit while stropping. Needless to say I was so jealous for not thinking of that idea.
Why stand when you can sit why sit when you can laydown.
Har!!!

[Tarkus]

Heres a photo of my setup got it to the height I like. The below photo is my workshop strop. This one Ive learned where I'm now at seated stool height.



Do whats comfortable for you.

[russell4cook]

Hi again,

I checked my stropping board against a straight edge and it's not flat. It has a bump in the middle at one end and is generally dished in the middle and the length, all by about 0.5mm. Is this a big problem?

[gssixgun]

If you Google "gssixgun bench strop" you will find a Vid out there on my channel that might give you a few ideas

[pixelfixed]

Leather being a natural material will never be perfect and changes with weather conditions such as humidity.
I use well worn DMT plates up to 1000 grit on my strops,they are dead flat when finished.
By using an X pattern stroke on any strop, you will get full coverage to the blade edge,thinking that using a wide strop and just up and down strokes is wrong IMO as the stropping surface changes all the time esp with hanging strops,Just my two cents.

[gssixgun]

By using an X pattern stroke on any strop, you will get full coverage to the blade edge, thinking that using a wide strop and just up and down strokes is wrong IMO as the stropping surface changes all the time esp with hanging strops,Just my two cents.

Wanna yell that from the rooftops please...

[pixelfixed]

Wanna yell that from the rooftops please...

I have a bad cold and a sore throat,no yelling today

[souschefdude]

Wanna yell that from the rooftops please...

Please elaborate. If the strop is wide enough to cover the whole blade, then why do X strokes?

[edhewitt]

Please elaborate. If the strop is wide enough to cover the whole blade, then why do X strokes?

Because if the strop isnt flat you won't strop the whole blade ie convex strop - blade.centre.stropped, concave strop - blade edges stropped, doing an x will mean that the whole blade should contact at least part of the strop.
Hope that is right, that's my understanding of it.