Thread: Stropping & Metal Removal

My question is whether stropping on an untreated strop removes metal.

From SRP member posts, I have the idea that stropping does not remove metal, and just cleans and aligns serrations. Correct?

The reason I ask is that last night I spent some time viewing my blade microscopically between stroppings, and definitely metal was removed and the blade made smoother.

As an aside, I'm using a vintage strop, which might have been treated, even though it doesn't appear treated.

Stropping on an untreated strop shouldn't remove metal, only oxidisation. It's job is to align the edge, as you mention.
That said, what magnification are you using to view this? You never know, you really may be removing metal! I think that the number of laps required to do this would far exceed what a blade would receive in it's lifetime, under normal circumstances though.
Maybe it was previously pasted. It seems most likely.

I want to make sure that my synthesis of what I've read, that untreated stropping does not remove metal, is correct. And, you've verified that is true.

I'm viewing the bevel with the Radio Shack 60x to 100x microscope, and viewing at 100x. Definitely, metal is being removed. Before the strop, I polished with Chromium Oxide 0.5 micron, and still saw some small striations in the bevel. After stropping about 50 passes, the striations had diminished. For testing purposes, I stropped much more than I normally would, about another 100 passes. And, the bevel was quite polished then. Significantly more polished than with the CrO paste.

So, best guess, am I dealing with a treated strop?

Do you see any metal streaks forming on your strop?

If you haven't already seen it read this thread here and especially the fourth post by mparker762.

Reading the post now, JimmyHad. Thanks!

Hoglahoo, no metal flakes on strop. But, if there, they would be very fine.

Excellent post, JimmyHad! Everyone should read it, as it speaks to my question. But, summarizing, there is some credible opinion that stropping is or might be mildly abrasive.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Excellent post, JimmyHad! Everyone should read it, as it speaks to my question. But, summarizing, there is some credible opinion that stropping is or might be mildly abrasive.

Yes well when Lee asked about the metal streakes showing up on the strop I think he meant color rather than visible flakes. I've not looked at linen with a microscope but I assume it is metal. My SRD felt hanger with the diamond paste is black on the pasted side now.

AFAIC the linen side is certainly abrasive to an extent. Some members, notably mparker and AFDavis have experimented with stropping extensively and have come to the conclusion that it is extremely important .... maybe as important as honing if not more so. I know that I get HHT way more after stropping than before.... for whatever that is worth.

JimmyHAD, this changes things somewhat for me. I'm increasingly valuing the smoothness of the bevel. My CrO paste makes my blades pretty smooth. But, not smooth enough for me. I want the bevel to be fairly free of striations and indentations of any type. Just smooth like a shaven face! But CrO hasn't been able to get me quite there.

(I haven't tried Diamond 0.25 micron products yet, largely because of the reports I've read that it also leaves a blade somewhat less than smooth. The striations are admittedly very shallow. But, some report the blade as still harsh to the face.)

With what I saw last night, I think my strop might be the final polishing I've been striving to achieve. (More experimentation needed.)

Water running across the blade is mildly abrasive also and 1,ooo,ooo years from now the edge will be sharper...

The question is answered yes anything rubbed across the edge is abrasive but in it intended use and amount of time for this intended use Leather is not considered abrasive, unless pasted....

On the abrasion scale it goes

Plain leather
Linen/Cotton/Webbing
Pasted Felt
Pasted Leather
Pasted Balsa
Hones

These are the intended uses, but yes if you want to get technical all these are abrasives....