Thread: Paddlestrop?

In a fit of enthusiasm for this new hobby, and in the pitch of desire to go do something in the shop, I made a paddlestrop.

Horsebutt on side, and balsa on the other.

Now what?

show us your pics please - you know the old saying

if there is no pictures it didn't happen

now paddle away and report on it's effectiveness would be good to hear

Yes I owe you guys lots of pics.

For the best pics paddle some one who's hot

Crox on balsa is a commonly used combination. As for the leather, you can go quite a few ways there. I think it depends on your finishing hone, going from an 8K hone to a 0.25 micron diamond spray seems pointless to me: too big a gap.

Do l find you need to use more pressure with a paddle strop? Although the leather is smooth..even slick...it feels bumpily withthe razor. I assume this si because it's on a hard surface, and not 'hanging'?

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Do l find you need to use more pressure with a paddle strop? Although the leather is smooth..even slick...it feels bumpily withthe razor. I assume this si because it's on a hard surface, and not 'hanging'?

You should not use any pressure, nor feel a bumpy surface.

The bumps can either be the result of bad glueing or bumpy paddle or leather. If you glued bubbles, try glueing again using a dough roller to prevent those bubbles. If the piece of wood you glued the leather on is not evenly flat, you can improve that. Otherwise, you can sand the leather surface much like lapping a hone with a flat tile and pieces of sandpaper of different grits, starting around 150 and finishing somewhere like 1000 grit, or higher if you like.

Is the 'nap' that sanding would leave a good thing? Maybe I should handplane it...

I know it's not glue bubbles: it put this thing in a large twin screw vise, and the board it's on is extremely flat.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

Is the 'nap' that sanding would leave a good thing? Maybe I should handplane it...

I know it's not glue bubbles: it put this thing in a large twin screw vise, and the board it's on is extremely flat.

How would you handplane it?

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

How would you handplane it?

With a handplane? Leather planes easily, especially if you know how to sharpen a plane blade like I know how to sharpen a plane blade.

What am I missing?

You know, now that I know how to prep a beard, maybe I should try shaving with a plane blade just to see if I can. That would make good youtuble fodder.