Thread: New and ready to take the plunge

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome! Enjoy all the fine information available on this forum.

Salut cousin, bienvenue.
In fact I don't know if you speak french too. The odds are higher in Québec than in Satchasomewhere I guess.
If you usually speak french or like to practise it, you can also visit the french equivalent forum, "le 3C ou Coupe-chou Club". The advices are the same, but of course the french production has the preference. There is also a lot of members here who are members of the 3C.

Originally Posted by YoWan

Salut cousin, bienvenue.
In fact I don't know if you speak french too. The odds are higher in Québec than in Satchasomewhere I guess.
If you usually speak french or like to practise it, you can also visit the french equivalent forum, "le 3C ou Coupe-chou Club". The advices are the same, but of course the french production has the preference. There is also a lot of members here who are members of the 3C.

Effectivement! Merci pour le lien!

I was just curious about how much the strop quality makes a difference.
I have some home-made strops with balsa wood and green compound. Not super flat nor long but the first criteria is fixable.
I also have a small (~4in ) paddle strop, with one loaded and one smooth side.

Are those good enough, or is the investment in a good strop going to be felt at shave time?

Hi and welcome. You will need a clean unpasted strop for daily use. As long as the leather is smooth, flat and blemish free you should be fine. Of course a linen strop is helpful but not necessary.

Razor quality crox and green compound are two very different things. Much of what can be used for knives you would never put to a razor as it is too course

Originally Posted by eddy79

Hi and welcome. You will need a clean unpasted strop for daily use. As long as the leather is smooth, flat and blemish free you should be fine. Of course a linen strop is helpful but not necessary.

Razor quality crox and green compound are two very different things. Much of what can be used for knives you would never put to a razor as it is too course

How much the strop material makes a difference? I've heard of people stropping on denim and their own skin!
Murray Carter is famous for stropping on newspaper wrapped on a sharpening stone - and considers green compound on leather a notch below a luxury.
Back in knife-land, I tried various options without getting the impression that one is superior to another.

That doesn't mean much though... My deburring skills still suck big time.

Originally Posted by malaverdiere

How much the strop material makes a difference? I've heard of people stropping on denim and their own skin!
Murray Carter is famous for stropping on newspaper wrapped on a sharpening stone - and considers green compound on leather a notch below a luxury.
Back in knife-land, I tried various options without getting the impression that one is superior to another.

That doesn't mean much though... My deburring skills still suck big time.

Murray Carter also had me taking my Grandfathers King 1k and flattening it on my sidewalk. He has some interesting techniques that are very controversial.

You can absolutely use news paper, denim is also a viable option. The palm of your hand will work but I dont recommend that for safety reasons.
News paper works well due to the abrasive nature in the ink of the print. You can make a hanging strop of news paper strips and it will help you learn to not use much pressure. Too much pressure and the paper will tear. Old jeans work well and should be easy to find cheap. I hope this helps

Also forgot to mention, I'd recommend a 3 inch wide leather strop. You can get one from SRD and its about the best value around. 3" is not necessary but very nice to have.