Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Senior Member str8_razr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    114
    Thanked: 1

    Default Making my own strop/bench strop

    I have a nice big (15"x23") piece of leather I want to use to re-surface my paddle strop, and make one or two 3"x8" bench hones, which I will apply abrasive pastes. Any suggestions on which pastes to use? I currently use a norton 4k/8k, rough side of my paddle strop that has red "dusty" chalk, then the smooth side. While I get "defeated" by a razor every now and again, this has been a very good set up for me to get great edges on my razors. My thought is to put .5 and .25 micron diamond paste on the bench hones... or .5 green chromium oxide pasted and .25 micron diamond... let me know your thoughts.

    My real questions are what should I use to cut the leather (will just a plain pair of scissors do, or should I use an exacto blade, etc.), and what type of glue/adhesive should I use?

    thanks
    Andrew
    Last edited by str8_razr; 01-04-2007 at 07:09 PM.

  2. #2
    Loudmouth FiReSTaRT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Etobicoke, ON
    Posts
    7,171
    Thanked: 64

    Default

    Andrew, I'll give you a couple of tips from my own project:
    1) I cut the leather with a utility knife. Make sure you use a fresh blade for the leather cuts, it makes a HUGE difference.
    2) For adhesive, we've had great results on 2 bench hones with regular contact cement. Make sure you apply it twice as the leather will absorb some. Once you mate the leather and the backing together, press down on them with a smooth surface and weigh it down (I used a granite tile that I use for hone lapping, with 2 cans of paint or 2 gallons of water over it) overnight.
    3) For the backing, I'd use smooth granite, smooth marble, glass or MDF even though Dave's plywood backed bench hone seems to be working just fine. Tony M is worried about the wood warping after time. MDF's cheapest and easiest to work with.
    4) Pastes.. I'm using the green 0.5mic CrO2 abrasive powder mixed with strop paste and nothing else.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Bobbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Oxford, UK
    Posts
    201
    Thanked: 2

    Default

    I did pretty much what Ilija did on his bench hone.

    Utility knife (new), contact cement and tonnes of weight (sandwiched mine between two hardback books with 4 paint tins on top) while the adhesive drys.

    I used MDF as the backing, as it has no grain it will not warp.

    I'm using a 0.5 chrome oxide paste supplied by the kind gentleman above.

  4. #4
    Loudmouth FiReSTaRT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Etobicoke, ON
    Posts
    7,171
    Thanked: 64

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bobbo View Post
    I'm using a 0.5 chrome oxide paste supplied by the kind gentleman above.
    I am just sorry for not getting aroudn to it sooner. Let's just hope that CP and RM get it to your door... By the way I'm sure you'll recognize the hand-writing on the outer bag

  5. #5
    Senior Member str8_razr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    114
    Thanked: 1

    Default

    for the contact cement, did you use a spray, or from a tube? thanks

    Andrew

  6. #6
    Loudmouth FiReSTaRT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Etobicoke, ON
    Posts
    7,171
    Thanked: 64

    Default

    I used the tube stuff but I don't see any problems with using the spray stuff.. Actually it's probably better for this application.

  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    9
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    should you have smooth side up or the back side

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •