Sharpnew
@sharpnew
active 3 years agoForum Replies Created
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You could also simply use the stiffer, less compressible kangaroo leather strops for your 4µ/2µ strop pair instead of the cow leather strops..
Thank you, why did I not think of that?
So what is a source to buy replacement roo strops in lieu of cow? I i know the cow is $3 but see no replacements for the roo other than buying complete handles.
or, I could just get 2 nano handles for 4/2 and 1/.5 and forget about roo?
or, just lapping film handles 6, 3, 1.5, and 1 micron, whats the point of 4/2 and 1/.5 cow when I can also do .5, .25, .1, on roo, .1 lapping, and .025 on roo?
Seems like cow isnt necessary?
Couple of questions for the experts. Thank you for all the great information here.
If the angle is 15 degrees, do you do the cow leather strops at 17 degrees?
Second question. I tried practice knives, did about 8 attempts, made the mistakes, cut up some leather strops. Then I started to go through the sequences. I dont care about microscope pictures. I only care about like in Forged in Fires, “Will it cut?”
After practicing on a cheap paring knife, no idea what steel it was, I bought a Bess and got it down to 125 – 145. The small knife adapter is necessary, only going to the 4/2 leather cow.
Then I started on the powdered steel.
Bugout 20CV, Started at 395 trying to sharpen on a bench. That didn’t work. After the WE, Bess 80, all diamond lapping films to .1, No cow leather, No ceramics, kangaroo to .025
945, S30V, From the factory at 285. Use the same sequence, bess 80 – 105. It varies. Same sequence, no cow leather
Of course I got no idea how many strokes to do per side. So I practiced on my cheap buck 110 lite, which is 420HC? Everything down to .025 Jende on kangaroo. NO cow leather. But more strokes. Since it was factory fresh, I started at 800 grit to get the burr. Brand new it ran 145 – 165. Afterwards? Pics below
And 75 on a different part of the blade
So its safe to assume that using cow leather really isn’t necessary and more important is the number of strokes?
I ask because its a pain to move those arms from the set angle. In this case 15 degrees, to say 17 degrees, then back to 15 degrees for the kangaroo. I feel it NEVER is exact while at least if it is all 15 degrees, it only moves slightly between handles requiring minute adjustments.
Its also the law of diminishing returns. Way to much work to get a tiny bit more “sharper” which you will quickly lose anyway. It maybe makes pretty pictures but I’m not sure of the value IRL getting low numbers around 50.
If I go back to the 20CV and S30V steel, I’ll need to take a lot more time to get from 80 to 50.
Happy Holidays everyone! Just wanted to let all the new folks know that I am still making and selling all of my accessories. Thanks, Doug
And you do very good work too. Thank you
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