Strop on a leather strop to polish and maintain the edge

Draw the knife blade backward along a leather strop to remove the microscopic burr left by sharpening and to polish the cutting edge to razor sharpness. Stropping is the final step in a complete sharpening workflow and the best way to maintain an already sharp edge between sharpening sessions.

How It Works

Leather has a natural abrasive quality and slight flexibility that polishes steel at the microscopic level. When you drag the blade spine-first across the leather (opposite direction from cutting), the leather catches and straightens the thin wire edge (burr), removes micro-scratches from sharpening, and aligns the edge to a finer point. Adding stropping compound (chromium oxide or diamond paste) increases the abrasive effect.

Step-by-Step

1. Secure the strop on a flat surface or hold the paddle strop firmly
2. Lay the blade flat on the leather, then raise the spine to your sharpening angle (15-20 degrees)
3. Draw the blade backward (spine leading, edge trailing) along the full length of the strop
4. Flip the blade and repeat on the other side
5. Alternate sides for 10-20 passes total
6. Test sharpness: a properly stropped edge will shave arm hair

Types of Strops

• Hanging strop: A leather strip that hangs from a hook; traditional barber style. Requires tension from one hand.
• Paddle strop: Leather glued to a flat wooden paddle. Easiest to use for kitchen knives.
• Bench strop: A wide leather strip mounted on a board. Good for wider chef's knives.

Tips

• Green chromium oxide compound (available as a crayon or bar) loaded onto the leather significantly improves results
• Strop after every sharpening session as the finishing step
• Between sharpening sessions, a few passes on the strop can maintain sharpness for weeks
• Stropping does not replace sharpening; it refines and maintains an edge that has already been sharpened
• The smooth (grain) side of leather is used for final polishing; the rough (flesh) side with compound is used for initial deburring
• A strop lasts for years with minimal care

Common Mistakes

• Drawing the blade edge-first (cutting into the leather): this gouges the leather and dulls the edge
• Using too much pressure: light pressure is sufficient; heavy pressure rounds the edge
• Stropping a knife that is too dull: if the knife does not cut paper, it needs sharpening first, then stropping