stroppy question...

[JonnyP]

Not too sure if this is in the right forum, please move if need be.....
When stropping blades on my leather strop, the leather gets all black and almost a polished surface....Do I need to scrape this off from time to time, or just keep applying stropping paste over the top...? I have been doing the latter to good efect, but was wondering what other folk do about this....

 

[British Red]

I do what you do Jon - just rub some more compound on - I guess the black stuff is removed metal but it seems to keep working if I top up the compound now and again

Red

 

[singteck]

Most of the time I just top it up but occasionally when I feel bored, I scrape them off

singteck

 

[JonnyP]

I do what you do Jon - just rub some more compound on - I guess the black stuff is removed metal but it seems to keep working if I top up the compound now and again

Red

Yes, the black is removed metal, but would it not be better to scrape it all off so you are back at the leather again rather than the polished surface...?
I have tried doing so, but it doesn't seem to make much difference either way....Was just wondering what is the right or wrong way of doing it, if it matters...

 

[JonnyP]

Most of the time I just top it up but occasionally when I feel bored, I scrape them off

singteck

Is there any reason why you scrape it off, other than boredom, Singteck..?

 

[singteck]

Is there any reason why you scrape it off, other than boredom, Singteck..?

When it gets too thick, it will start to flake and make a mess.

singteck

 

[Andy]

In theory it might cause micro scratching of the edge but I don't really find it makes much differnce (though some compounds don't stick to it very well)

 

[Longstrider]

The black build up on the strop is caused by the steel that you have removed from the blade(s) you've sharpened Jon. This, mixed with the residue of the compound will build up on the strop until it becomes so thick that it flakes away from the leather and leaves the surface of the strop in a messy and uneven state.
I tend to scrape the strop clean before the layer builds up enough to start flaking. Up to that point I can't see the residue being of any harm to the blade you are working on or the strop, but as I like my strops to be nice and even and flat I clean them off before the layer of muck gets too thick.
An old Stanley knife blade used at 90 degees to the leather makes an excellent tool for removing the layer of muck

 

[JonnyP]

Cheers Ian.......