How to Make a Contoured Strop to Sharpen Your Gouges | Wood Carving for Beginners

Sharping is a key component to wood carving. But when you're a beginner, it can be difficult to get a mirror finish on the curved profile of your carving gouges. While it's possible to accomplish that razor sharp finish on a flat strop, it can be easier if you have a contoured surface that matches the shape of your gouges.
Unfortunately, finding the right tool also isn't easy. Many of the contoured strops available, like the one from Flexcut, for example, are too small to be effective for your full size tools.
Luckily, with some help from professional carver Randall Madcarver Stoner, you'll be able to learn how to make your own custom slip strop in just a few steps to match the profiles of your gouges. We hope you find this beginner wood carving tutorial from Schaaf Tools helpful!
Video Notes:
Choose Your Profiles
Timestamp: [0:28]
Select the gouges you are going to use. In this video, Randy will be creating his stropping profiles using profiles from the Schaaf Tools 12-pc Foundation Wood Carving Set, 7-pc Expansion Set.
Gouge profiles used:
7L-20mm Long Bent
7-14mm, 5-20mm
12 - 6mm V parting chisel
3-20mm
Glue used: Titebond "Red" - (any basic wood glue should work)
You should also be able to use this strop for your 4-pc Detail Set of Fishtail Chisels, because their sweeps fall under the tools chosen above.
Getting Started
Timestamp: [3:11]
The wood used in this tutorial is Basswood.
Cut into the surface of your wood, creating grooves that match the sweep of your gouge.
NOTE - Leather is optional. You can also put honing compound directly onto the wood.
Timestamp: [5:23]
Make sure you leave some extra space in between each contour. It'll take more space than you might think to complete the groove.
Sometimes you may need to widen the contour a little bit to ensure your gouge will fit the whole way.
Sanding
Timestamp: [7:55]
Sand each groove down to get it clean and uniform.
Adding Leather (Optional)
Timestamp: [8:40]
At this point, you can keep your slip strop as is, and apply honing compound directly to the wood. Or you can continue following along and learn how to apply leather to your sharpening strop.
Cut your leather to the approximate size of the block. Make sure the leather piece is slightly larger to account for the contours.
Randy prefers to have the rougher side of the leather facing up. (The rougher side of the leather will hold the sharpening compound better).
Glue the smooth side of the leather to the block using wood glue.
Timestamp: [10:45]
Now it's time to sharpen your wood carving gouges! Get a razor sharp finish on your tools before you get back to carving :)

[@MrErViLi]

I made one similar out of two pieces of MDF glued together. One side was a concave side for the outside of the gouges and the other was a convex side for the inside of the gouges. You have to strop both sides sometimes.

[@robwoodke6592]

Very cool idea. I’m starting on mine immediately. Thank you so much. 👍 Happy carving and be safe.

[@manyfeather2knives423]

What type of wood did you use?

[@GDM1379]

Проблема в полировке внутри стомесок, особенно уголка☝️

[@kingofcastlechaos]

Get and use a bench hook. In 40 yrs of woodworking, the absolute worst accident was because I tried to hold my work and the chisel went through into my hand.

[@indianatone218]

Great idea buddy ,not only does it save you money ,which is a plus ! it also gives you another nice project and sense of accomplishment ,thanks for showing us , ive liked and subd you .Greetings from Wales UK ,Ant .

[@BobsWoodStuff]

Great project! I may have to make one of those. What kind of glue did you use to stick the leather to the wood? Do you use honing compound/rouge with it, or just bare leather?

[@SchaafTools]

Randy used basic wood glue. He said Titebond "Red". (Sorry for the late reply)

[@damonmanni]

As mentioned by others thank you for this great video. How did you get your block to stay in place? What kind of padding is that under the block that grips it so well? Also can you advise on where I could order? Cheers!

[@kingofcastlechaos]

Use a bench hook- much better

[@jackbnibblem2221]

Great video. I have also seen these where instead of a valley the sharpening point is a hill for the inside of the tool and was wondering if you made those too and and if a video on a how to on a hill block for gouges could be made as well

[@SchaafTools]

Hey Jack, we'll put it in the hopper! For now, you can get by with just a piece of leather that you can bend to fit the inside of your bevel

[@qutub-ul-walikhan2459]

Very helpful. Great.

[@earth2becky]

Great tutorials, Matt. Thanks!

[@stephenwhittier6439]

Thanks ! 🤗

[@danej7335]

Q: Isnt the sweep of the 7L the same as a straight 7? do I need both troughs? As I understand the rough vs smooth up debate, the reason for smooth up is that it *may* result in less dubbing of the edge.