Do You Need to Strop a Knife After Sharpening?

Are You Being Too Picky About Knife Sharpening?

Most of the time, we might be overly picky about the knife sharpening process, worrying about every little detail. However, the necessity of stropping a knife after sharpening can be a matter of personal preference. If you're looking for an extra level of precision, stropping can be beneficial, but it's not always necessary.

What Is Stropping?

Stropping a knife is a technique used to polish the blade and remove small burrs that may have formed after sharpening. It uses a combination of pressure and swiping motions to smooth out the edge, making the blade cleaner and more precise. Because it is less abrasive and damaging to the blade, it's a popular choice for those who want to take their knife sharpening to the next level.

The Stropping Process

After working on higher grit stones or belts to hone a knife, it's a good practice to finish the process with a stropping method. Typically, this involves using two different strops: a rough one and a smooth one. For both Japanese and Western knives, the choice between a leather strop (like the grain side) and a more abrasive strop (like the skin side) depends on your preference and the specific type of knife.

Steel Harder Than Strop?

Yes, steel is typically harder than a strop, but the strop still serves an important function. It can remove any micro imperfections and micro burrs left over from the honing process. Therefore, stropping is a crucial final step in ensuring your knives are razor sharp.

When to Strop Your Knife

While stropping is not always necessary, it can be beneficial, especially for kitchen knives. Depending on the knife and how you use it, regular stropping can maintain the edge without the need for frequent honing. However, stropping is not solely about using leather; many users prefer steel strops for their kitchen knives. For pocketknives, regular honing is usually more necessary due to the nature of their use.

Key Takeaways:

Stropping is not necessary for all knives: It depends on the type of knife and its usage. Steel and leather stropping serve different purposes: Steel is primarily for edge alignment, while leather helps in polishing the edge. Regular stropping can extend the life of your knife: It helps maintain the edge without the need for frequent honing.

Please visit Kirigins Shop to learn more about stropping techniques and to see my detailed posts on the subject.

Keywords: knife sharpening, stropping, honing steel