dsolsbery Report post Posted October 27, 2012 Do you clean your strop with saddle soap or something, or is it easier to replace it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 27, 2012 The compound I use seems like it's in a hard wax base, as it won't build up on the leather unless a lot of friction heat builds up. As such, I think you could scrap it off, if you needed to. Most of the time I just apply more compound over the old. If it builds up to the point that it's starting to flake off, I just replace it. There's LOTS of scrap pieces that can become a new strop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsolsbery Report post Posted October 27, 2012 Does this compound you use replace jewelers rouge? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted October 27, 2012 I use WD40 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted October 28, 2012 A few times i scraped it off with a knife the last time i used a belt sander to clean it off. Mines glued to a board. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 28, 2012 It's buffing compound....basically the same stuff. buy it at lowes...next to the grinding and buffing wheels Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trox Report post Posted October 28, 2012 (edited) I use a German aggressive compound named Menzerna. When it starts to flake of i use more on the top. I never had to resharpen any of my tools, just stropping them, a very good compound. My current strop is seven years old, used every day and never cleaned. The steel mix with the compound and stick to the strop Jewelers rouge is not good enough it only give a light top polish. Get a more aggressive compound. Trox Edited October 28, 2012 by Trox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King's X Report post Posted October 29, 2012 I have been doing like Dirtclod for a couple of years and reapply the green rouge until it is fully covered. It has worked just fine with no issues that I am aware of. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neillo Report post Posted October 29, 2012 Most of what clogs a strop is just the steel you polish away, shouldn't do any harm to just reapply compound over it, unless the leather is starting to tear up. Ideally you'd have 2 strops anyway for real sharp tools: 1 with a mostly aluminium oxide compound like flexcut or pfeil for fast cutting and one with chromium oxide for final polishing. I end up replacing my alox one much more often. Also, it's pretty cheap to just buy compound powders and mix them with camellia or baby oil, you can get 'em at jewellery tooling supply stores. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsolsbery Report post Posted October 31, 2012 I sure do appreciate the responses. You have answered my question. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bigfoot Report post Posted November 2, 2012 Do you clean your strop with saddle soap or something, or is it easier to replace it? I did occasionally scrape off the leather strop with the back of a steel ruler...Right or wrong? but I now tend to just use thick, firm cardboard with compound on it as it's easy to replace and I seemed to gradually round off the end of my swivel knives using my leather strop. The card is dead flat on the table and has no "give" like leather so makes a good edge for me. My leather strop is glued to a wooden handle but is now covered in nicks from trying to learn how to keep my round knives sharp! I use WD40 For what? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bigfoot Report post Posted November 2, 2012 I use WD40 To clean compound?...i wish I'd invented WD40, it does soooo many things! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted November 2, 2012 I spray the leather strop and wipe off the deposits. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites