Hard polishing paste on impact belts
Many blades such as razors, chef's knives, chisels and carving tools are given their final polish by honing on a strop. When honing, the cutting edge is finely polished and the last burr falls off. Leather has the advantage that it moulds easily around the cutting edge and follows the burr as it bends away. In order for the leather to have an abrasive effect, it must be prepared with abrasive particles. Hard polishing pastes, such as those usually used on polishing blocks, offer a simple and inexpensive way of doing this.
What do I need to strip leather?
There are different strops and honing blocks depending on the intended use. Straight razors are usually honed on a hanging strop. Leather honing blocks are suitable for knives and tool blades. Smaller tools and knives, for example, can be easily honed on a double-sided push strop. There are also suitable honing belts for abrasive-guided sharpening systems, for example from KME.
If you want to make your own honing block or prepare a flexible leather for honing heavily moulded tool cutting edges (e.g. carving tools), use a vegetable-tanned leather (e.g. Swedish cowhide). Thinner leathers can be glued to a backing block with contact adhesive.
To prepare the honing leather, you will also need fine polishing paste, leather oil and a simple knife to spread the paste.
How is the buffing leather prepared?
The hard, waxy polishing paste is applied directly to the smooth skin side of the leather (also known as the hair side). Brush the entire surface evenly with the block. Now add a few drops of leather oil and spread it with your fingers. Rub or massage the resulting mixture of oil and paste carefully into the leather surface and then leave it to soak into the leather, ideally overnight.
The polishing paste is applied directly to the leather
Once the polishing paste has been well absorbed, take a simple knife (snack knife) and carefully massage the paste into the leather surface with a little pressure. You will notice that the polishing paste already has its abrasive effect.
The polishing paste is distributed with oil and penetrates the leather
What do I need to bear in mind when stripping on leather?
Honing on leather is quite simple. Pull the bevelled surfaces of the cutting edge alternately over the leather. Pay attention to the angle of the cutting edge. The blade is always drawn across the leather. If you push against the cutting edge, you will easily cut into the leather and damage the push strap.
The blade is guided over the leather with pulling movements
How do I care for the peel-off leather?
Over time, abraded metal particles are deposited on the leather and the effect of the abrasive particles diminishes. To freshen up the surface, it is sufficient to rub it with a cloth and a few drops of leather oil and remove the metal particles. Sufficient abrasive particles from the polishing paste will still remain in the leather. However, after cleaning two or three times, the abrasive effect gradually diminishes. Then apply fresh hard polishing paste and leather oil as previously explained. This way you will enjoy your leather for a long time.
