For sharpening knives, smooth leather is a common and highly effective choice for stropping, especially when used without abrasive compounds for a final polish. However, the most suitable leather often depends on whether you plan to use a stropping compound and the specific edge finish you desire.
Understanding Stropping Leather
Stropping is a crucial step in knife sharpening that refines the edge, removes microscopic burrs left by sharpening stones, and polishes the blade to a razor-sharp finish. Leather is the preferred material for strops due to its unique ability to achieve this delicate yet critical task.
There are two primary types of leather used for stropping:
- Smooth Leather (Flesh Side): This is the smooth, hairless side of the leather.
- Suede Leather (Napped/Rough Side): This is the fuzzy, napped side, often created by sanding the inner surface of the hide.
Smooth Leather for Knives
Smooth leather is widely considered the standard and is common for stropping knives. It is particularly recommended if you plan on not using a stropping compound. When used bare, smooth leather provides a natural, gentle abrasive action that deburrs the edge and gives it a highly polished finish. This results in an incredibly keen, reflective edge often referred to as "shaving sharp."
Key characteristics and uses:
- Common Choice: For knives, smooth leather is a highly popular and effective choice for general stropping.
- Uncompounded Stropping: Excellent for achieving a final, refined edge without the need for additional compounds.
- Final Polish: Imparts a mirror-like finish to the bevels, making the edge glide effortlessly through materials.
- Can be used with fine compounds: While best bare, smooth leather can also be loaded with very fine compounds (e.g., 0.5 micron or finer) for an even higher polish.
- Materials: Often made from cowhide, horsehide, or kangaroo leather, each offering different levels of firmness and durability.
Suede Leather and Stropping Compounds
While smooth leather excels on its own, suede leather is often preferred when you intend to use abrasive stropping compounds. The napped, porous surface of suede leather is designed to hold and accept compounds more effectively than its smooth counterpart.
Key characteristics and uses:
- Compound Retention: Suede leather's fibrous texture accepts compounds better, ensuring the abrasive particles remain on the strop for consistent action.
- Aggressive Stropping: When loaded with compounds, suede provides a more aggressive cutting action, helping to remove more material and refine an edge that might still have micro-serrations or a stubborn burr.
- Versatility: Can be used with a wide range of compounds, from coarser grits to very fine ones, depending on the desired outcome.
- Specific Tools: For some tools like carving tools, suede leather with honing compound is often recommended due to the unique demands of their edges.
Choosing the Right Leather for Your Knife
The best choice of leather depends on your sharpening goals and whether you're incorporating stropping compounds.
Practical Guide to Leather Strops
- For a high polish and final deburring without compound: Smooth leather is recommended. This is ideal for maintaining already sharp knives or giving a finishing touch after fine grit stones.
- For robust edge refinement with compounds: Suede leather is excellent for holding and dispersing compounds effectively. This can be beneficial for knives that need a bit more abrasive action before a final polish.
- For versatility: Many strops feature both smooth and suede sides, allowing you to use one side for a compound and the other for a bare finish.
Comparison Table: Smooth vs. Suede Leather
| Feature | Smooth Leather (Flesh Side) | Suede Leather (Napped Side) |
|---|---|---|
| Common Use | Final polishing, deburring, general stropping for knives | Applying compounds for more aggressive edge refinement |
| Compound Adhesion | Good for fine compounds, but less absorbent than suede | Accepts compounds better due to its napped surface |
| Effect on Edge | High polish, very fine edge, removes burrs | More abrasive action with compound, can create a "toothy" edge |
| Recommendation | Recommended if not using compound; common for knives | Ideal for use with compounds |
Stropping Compounds
Stropping compounds are abrasive pastes or sprays that enhance the cutting action of a strop. They come in various grit sizes, from coarse to extremely fine, and are typically made from materials like chromium oxide (green compound), aluminum oxide, or diamond abrasives. When applied to leather, they transform the strop into an ultra-fine sharpening surface. For more information on compounds, explore resources like Sharpening Supplies.
Maintaining Your Leather Strop
Proper care will extend the life of your strop:
- Keep it Clean: Dust and debris can contaminate the stropping surface.
- Condition Periodically: Apply a small amount of leather conditioner to prevent drying and cracking, especially for smooth leather.
- Store Properly: Keep your strop flat or hanging in a clean, dry environment away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
By understanding the distinct properties of smooth and suede leather, you can choose the optimal strop for your knives, ensuring a consistently sharp and refined edge.
