How To Make A Diamond Knife Sharpening Strop

[@OUTDOORS55]

Seems a lot of people are have trouble with random flashes in the videos lately. This is on youtubes end. Ive seen it in several other youtube channels videos. Not sure what's going on over in youtube land but, I guarantee you its not affecting videos on the trending page 😂😂

[@darkriverfarmer699]

was just about to ask about it. thanks.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Yeah it should go away soon. Seems other videos get better as time passes 🤷‍♂️

[@supersymun]

Looks like out-of sync frames... may want to adjust your framerates before uploading... try 29.997, 24, 25, 30 or if you have it, 60, 57

[@jasonandhillary]

Had the feeling you were trying to F with us subliminal, lol

[@Hal_bowman]

thought I was having a stroke

[@DAVIDMILLER-nc9vo]

One of the reasons that I like Alex's videos is that he gives links to just about every item that he has on his videos. Too many KZbin presenters talk a great deal but do not give a link or even a spelling of the item. Thanks, Alex!

[@OuttheCave]

Hi Mr Outdoors, At a big surface hardware store, if you go to the cutting center, they will have scrap pieces of MDF (and other wood). If you ask, they will sell pieces for pennies and that would be perfect for this project. Good tutorial, keep it up!

[@crommy927]

Out the Cave exactly. I also found a neighborhood building houses. And the guys there let me have a lot of nice MDF scraps for free.

[@KF1]

Nice. My strop is a glossy Stihl catalogue with mineral oil and compound. I never have to clean it, just rip the top page off and bingo fresh surface. Enjoyed the video

[@ausdigr]

It is always a good day when I see one if your videos appear Alex, thanks Mate.

[@ataarjomand]

Thanks. Very clear and very concise instructions and you did not waste anybody's time by irrelevant details. Filming and light was good also.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks for stopping by👍

[@e.t.preppin7084]

I wanted to make a comment for anyone wanting to get into knife making. The one tool that I just bought after playing with knife making that made all the difference in the world to me that made it easy to keep starting new knives with ease is the porta band saw. With out it I probably wouldn’t be making hardly any knives at all if I had to keep using an angle grinder. That’s my tip for the new knife maker. GET A PORTA BAND SAW AND STAND. it will keep ya interested. It worked for me. Stay sharp y’all!

[@scottyj6226]

Wow I'm glad I found this video. Feuds whose got two thumbs and is PROBABLY going to buy 1 or 2 knew strops? THIS GUY!

[@codyholland5138]

The only actual knife stropping compound I've ever used is wicked edge diamond wax. It comes in a syringe. I got some 1 micron and some .5 micron. I ordered it at least three years ago and sharpen and maintain all my pocket knives, kitchen knives and my brothers pocket knives and I think I've only reapplied once. It lasts a long time. Works very quickly too.

[@roadhandviking2741]

I've made many strops but never used diamond spray. Thanks for the info

[@r1w3d]

Never looked into fine side vs coarse side stops I've just always used fine side 😬 at this point I think it's habitual rather that actual performance or anything. I've never seen spray either I always use a paste. Sweet vid Alex and I'm glad everything is working out 👍👍

[@matchesburn]

I have some graded diamond stropping pastes in syringes that I got from Amazon by Kent Supply that come from .25 micron all the way up to 40 micron, which are two very different sides of the stropping spectrum (believe it or not, the 40 micron comes in handy - I've used it to "blend" in and minimize chipping in blades and to start a convex edge on hollow/flat grinds). Kent Supplies also offers the same grit stropping paste in 20 gram containers, too. I highly recommend their 1 up to 5 micron pastes (I'm constantly using 1 and 5 micron, 5 micron to restore the edge, 1 micron to polish and strop). Applies easily, can be rubbed in, isn't hard, isn't watery, it will stick to the strop but will come off if you clean it with olive oil like it should. Produces consistent results, too. I have some progression strops that I make damn sure to keep uncontaminated and I haven't seen odd scratches or inconsistent finishes with them. 1 micron gives finishes and scratch patterns like you'd suspect. 5 micron seems to be a good use medium because it's right at the point of actually removing metal in observable amounts with stropping but not enough to undo an edge or have to use another grit before going to 1 micron. Just remember, even 5 micron is pretty damn small. DMT's Extra-Extra fine interrupted diamond stones are 3 micron/8000 mesh and about as high of a grit as you can get in diamond stones with the diamonds impregnated permanently into them, and even then you need a decent break-in period before you see consistent results. I've also had strops made out of a bunch different material. Wood, acrylic (would not recommend), jeans, cloth, leather band/razor strops. Never had one out of G10, but it actually seems like a pretty smart choice. G10 can be easily sanded, bonds well with glue, is chemically resistant. The only issue I have is that I like fat handles to more easily hold onto the strop for long periods of time, but there is nothing preventing you from getting a literal block of G10 or just gluing multiple pieces together. I think my next strop might be G10. And, hey, even the fancy color options and multiple laminate sheets of G10 are pretty cheap. Would be cool, just for fun, to put a small sheet of Moonglow glow-in-the-dark G10 inbetween just two black sheets and glue them together for a two-sided strop. With G10 you could cheaply make your strop to just about any color, size or shape that you want.

[@stroys7061]

You own some cool tools. Good project 👍🏻.

[@Roger21989]

Love your projects, very down to earth!

[@Emtrthree]

You should try out diamond pastes, they're life changing man. In a pinch they'll work with a slice of paper and something hard and flat ie a whetstone or blank of steel. Just so it wont flex. It doesnt even have to be that big of on just enough to where your comfortable

[@mikelikesknives428]

Great project. Thanks for the tips!

[@harleyhonk2477]

Top post as always brother

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks my friend!👊

[@bikernub]

i know i will never do this project but i really enjoy your videos!! i love your channel

[@jimmydunn6626]

Great content. Keep on keepin on

[@lsubslimed]

Nice 👍 It looks like it could benefit a big by contouring the handle a bit, or just chamfering/round its edges.

[@mrwdpkr5851]

Excellent video !

[@TheMrWoodsman]

Top job there fella.

[@GaryWiens-c8o]

Would there be any downsides to using denim instead of leather for the stropping surface?

[@Stoney327]

Hello Just a bit of advice about MDF. Seal it with Poly before you start using it. MDF by it's very nature soaks up moisture like a sponge and begins to degrade. Just my thoughts, but 40+ years of dealing with it has given me cause for concern. Thank you. Stoney

[@garethbaus5471]

The only thing about MDF I don't dislike is that it can be cheap, I just don't like dealing with it.

[@Stoney327]

@@garethbaus5471 Howdy Gareth.Thanks for the reply. I agree, CHEAP is the correct word, just be certain that you're speaking of MDF and not particle board? I'm not even sure anyone still produces Particle Board these days? That was a big thing in inexpensive cabinetry back in the 60's and 70's. It looks almost exactly like MDF, but grainier. 10 minutes of exposure to moisture and it was dust in 3 weeks! A lot of low end cabinet and furniture makers used it as a replacement for good quality (expensive) Plywood in Cabinet backs and Chest or Dresser bottoms. MDF isn't much better for those projects? Thank you again. Stoney

[@garethbaus5471]

@@Stoney327 I have used both, MDF generally seems to be less brittle I don't know if it is the binder used, or the shape of the chips/fibers of wood that cause this.

[@RedBeardOps]

I made one of these back in the Boy Scouts! Sound like I’ll be making another! Thanks!

[@OUTDOORS55]

All I use now are diy strops. 😀

[@100-s9l]

Other options are fabrics like denim or khakis instead of leather, which one might have lying around to use for free and double sided tape instead of glue, which allows easier swap when the surface eventually has to be replaced due to damage or age.

[@mohammadmobassir2363]

Is 0.25 microns for good for softer side and 0.5 microns for the denser side

[@glockgaston2922]

Excellent thanks for sharing!!!

[@John..18]

Great job,, I've made several over the years very similar.. I've now moved on to balsa (from craft shops) 2" x 1/2"x 8" and throw them away after a while,, so much less hassle, (imho),, Cheers, buddy,,

[@justinw1765]

Do you still glue on the leather to the balsa?

[@John..18]

​Nope, just 1 or 2 micron diamond spray, straight onto the balsa, so easy and so good,,, only light pressure on the blade tho', the soft balsa easily deforms, hope this helps,, ps, I just get cheap diamond spray from Amazon, seems to work great,, 👍

[@justinw1765]

@@John..18 Much thanks John, for the info and reply. Cheers

[@nafgamez3571]

Good video dude great knife maker

[@gregkis]

That's a strop not a knife dude

[@nafgamez3571]

SeagullG I know da he’s still a good knife maker

[@jasonh.8362]

That broken blade would make some great little kitchen knives. Super thin, great for peeling potatoes and such.

[@gradywalters731]

Love the vids💪🏻

[@NavyAssassinOnBLAST]

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise. I'm glad I found an alternative to Gunny Juice. This looks equally as effective, to me.

[@skomantas8699]

It's possible to use something else than that spray or compound?

[@LionelRedelinghuys]

How do you strop if you don't have a strop? Can you use a fine stone?

[@hamzahsyed7485]

Ur place is much better!

[@MimeswithRhymes]

What do you think would happen if I sprayed some diamond spray onto the black side of one of those big, flimsy, rubbery refrigerator magnets to strop on? Too much pressure from the magnet? It’d be equal every time, simply push the edge along it?

[@nathenwallis5664]

What are your thoughts on diamond spray vs diamond paste?, is one easier to work with?

[@hidude2124]

I needed this video

[@lukearts2954]

3:00 at first I thought it was just my dirty mind, but with the way you say that you go for the "rough side", I'm absolutely sure that you have seen too that this looks a lot like a spanking paddle...

[@BeefNEggs057]

My mind went there too 😂🤣

[@tonyb83]

If, as you say, DMT is not the best diamond spray, what is? Do the diamonds eventually get pushed below the surface of the leather, especially on the soft side, which renders the strop ineffective?

[@aframecorry1]

I'd really like to se you do a segment on sharpening. I can't seem to get the touch. You seem like it's a no brainer.. Keep up the good work!

[@garethbaus5471]

He has a number of older videos that are great for advancing your understanding of sharpening, most of them predate the majority of the knife making videos.

[@cainkopczynskie6296]

When i clean the edge of the leather off i set it face down and trim it off on a table so i don't cut my self

[@flatasacueball6326]

Isn't 0.5 micron about the equivalent to the green chromium oxide compound that so many people use for all purpose stropping? I was looking for a direct replacement for chromium oxide and it seems like 0.5 micron diamond is it. No?

[@dylanmertens9414]

Is there any way you could do a video on the worksharp field sharpener? It has 4 sides of different sharpening material (if you should say so). One side has a course stone, the other is a fine/medium stone, and then there’s a ceramic side, and leather strop. I personally love this compact set up, but I would like to see what your take on it is, and see what types of tips and tricks you might come up with.

[@tobedetermand212]

Would stropping compound from a tool store like porter cables tool compounds suffice in a pinch ? I made mine out of an old belt and a piece of lumber . Seems to work for a poor guy strop. 👍🏻

[@forteka81]

Anudder cool video, thanks.

[@Keith_the_knife_freak]

Very nice !!

[@agaralpha1842]

nice strop :)

[@mandras2009]

Great Video, as I am new to sharpening, what would be the difference between using diamond spray Vs regular green compound? 0.5 micron diamond spray will have a higher performance?

[@OUTDOORS55]

Yeah diamond tends to be more precise and will cut more efficiently and doesn't break down. Chromium oxide will break down fast but its cheap.

[@Griff33]

Would you use this before or after the Knives Plus Strop Block? Grit wise? Thanks

[@gregbellinger5765]

Very good camera work, content and tutorial. It makes using a honing rod useless. Thanks. GB

[@1mataleo1]

Does the Diamond spray last a lot longer than aluminum oxide compound? I use the Bark River white compound sold by DLT Trading. It seems to work well and lasts quite a while, but if the Diamond spray lasts a lot longer, perhaps it is worth the extra cost. It just seems like you get so little bit for the price.

[@rambo20866]

Oh damn I love your videos

[@pop4803]

Could you buy a plain strip an use the diamond paste on it? Thanks, Harry

[@davidb2272]

Can you do a video on your personal pocket knife collection??

[@stuartmathie3872]

Hi Alex, I know this is a 4 year old video but do you know which spyderco knife that is?? Thanks for the videos

[@rickprice407]

Good video. I've used used the DMT .5 micron spray and liked it OK. For my purposes the gold(.6 micron) Flex Cut compound works a little better. The big difference is that I find diamond to be a tad too aggressive and by the time I'm using around a micron I'm looking for more of a polish than blade removal

[@_BLANK_BLANK]

Diamond compounds are really good for steels that have a decent amount of vanadium, and niobium carbide in them. For things like simple carbon steels, tool steels that dont have much vanadium, and some stainless steels. You are more than fine with stuff like chromium oxide paste, and various other compounds.

[@kcstafford2784]

Dude I owe you an apology.. When you did talk about sharpening steal..I totally disagreed (I'm a cook) But up on open minded testing 👀 I find you are correct a steal can help hold an edge but the more one uses it the more hone ya need I was foolish and apologize

[@gregkis]

You could just put another piece of leather smooth side up on the other side!

[@BornIn1500]

That's what I did with the strop I made.

[@lsubslimed]

It will work, but after making and using bunch of strops I tend to also make them single-sided now as well. It can get a bit annoying when setting the bottom side against your leg and getting compound all over you pants etc, or by contaminating the bottom side leather by laying it down on an uncleaned surface with dust and crumbs etc. Just my $0.02 🙂

[@pd5156]

Have You tried balsa strop?

[@castledomeknives9395]

Let us know how the diamond spray works. I make my own strops.. different widths and different compounds..my favorite is .75 x 1.5 x 15 inches including handle. I feel 1.5 allows more control of knife to strops. I use 1.5" red oak from HD...like 4 bucks.

[@zacharysherry2910]

Thanks 👍 I've been looking for some hard wood instead of ply or MDF (never MDF).

[@8bitInfidel]

Dat outro tho, great videos. Thanks for your time.

[@JoeTheSquidOfficial]

Lots more videos now. I like it

[@willc9235]

For diamond paste I like using the rough side but for the spray I use the smooth side.

[@mickkeim4142]

Do you ever use balsa or bass wood instead of leather for your strops?

[@OUTDOORS55]

I tend to stick to leather. Balsa doesn't last long but some people do like it🙂

[@A-Spoto]

How would you recommend doing this for someone living in an apartment without a single power tool to their name?

[@JudoStev]

Some hardware stores will cut material to size if you ask them, sometimes for a fee. Everything else can be accomplished with hand tools very easily. You don't need the handle he made, it's a luxury.

[@erykkrolasik9326]

How do I clean a strop like this? On compound strops you would use a razor.

[@HebuTheLoneWolf]

4:17 i know, from a experience "almost lost my thumbnail as a kid when i did that"

[@eerolahti4334]

I was Teached to always cut away from yourself but dont know if it only apply to cutting wood with knife

[@Tkfl567]

I glue scrap leather to 5 gallon paint stirring sticks. They are free at the paint desk at Home Depot.

[@DanGoodShotHD]

I like it.... ruff 😆

[@shanek6582]

Would the diamond spray stick directly to the mdf board? Walter sorrels had a video where he made a strop wheel out of md, I think he just used jewelers rouge on it, I’d like to try this diamond spray stuff, thanks.

[@garethbaus5471]

Probably.

[@MrGodofwar666]

it will stick to it but mdf is made up from compressed fibres so it acts like a sponge, the rouge walter used is more waxy so that stay on longer

[@upallnyte2000]

So I'm new to your channel and was wondering if this would be good for the ceramic blade I got for a gift? I did watch the ceramic sharpening video just trying to understand if this would work as well.

[@OUTDOORS55]

No, it won't work well for dull ceramic. Unless you want to spend hours and hours stropping.🙂

[@e.t.preppin7084]

I have the .5 micron but seem to prefer white compound. Should I switch to 1 micron ?

[@OUTDOORS55]

Not sure, I depends what your white compound is.

[@matchesburn]

Compound colors are not standardized. And if it's from China, even less so. The huge like 1 pound bricks of compound that you can get on Ebay/Amazon are absolute garbage to work with and use for strops. So... white compound is just whatever compound that company used and colored white. Green compound is generally known as fine and even that differs drastically between companies like Bark River and others that are specifically used for knives. If they don't tell you what the particle size or grit is, specifically, don't bother using it. You want to know what abrasiveness you're using.

[@Raptor0805]

Could you explain the need for a diamond strop? is this mainly for uber-super-steel knives (like S110V)?

[@matchesburn]

Even steels like S30V, ect. would benefit from diamond. But the best advantage is quickly and consistently giving you an edge that you know. Some pastes and materials are friabile. Meaning that they break down and "fracture" with use. It's why a used piece of sandpaper will be less abrasive than a new one. Consistency is king in knife edges. But... if you have something that is breaking down DIAMOND... Something has gone very, VERY wrong. (And, yes, there's some very expensive and/or experimental man-made super materials that are harder or more abrasive than diamond. I doubt anyone reading this has made a knife out of them and is using a strop on them, however.)

[@garyparker2631]

Can you make me a couple strops with just the wood with the handle I'll get the rest thanks bro let me know.

[@OUTDOORS55]

The strops i sell are at www.knifepointgear.com hope this help🙂

[@e.t.preppin7084]

I am a strop fanatic. I’ve made so many I cannot count them all 😂. I don’t know why we don’t make our strops like 6” wide

[@gregkis]

I too am a stropaholic

[@e.t.preppin7084]

I come home every day and the first thing I do is wipe my blade with acetone to remove any tape glue residue and proceed to stropping. Preferably with white compound and then I breathe a sigh of relief. 😂😂😂. OMG. I’m so OCD. 😂😂😂. Wow I laugh a lot. In reality I don’t do any laughing !!!

[@LTT.Official]

Hey Alex quick question about this one, how would you clean these, same as the compound strop?

[@OUTDOORS55]

Yeah thats how I do it.

[@vincentbain1392]

Hey bud, when you have a preference such as “I like the rough side”, please tell us why. Why do you have the preference? I’m planning on starting this as a hobby. And I know jack turd about it.

[@jess60901]

Hi, Vincent! After about a year, how's your jack turd knowledge comin' along? Enquiring minds want to know.

[@chrisolenick953]

i myself am curious as well

[@leebarker6188]

Glue smooth side of leather on the flip side

[@croanoke]

Hey, love your content. You've got some flash frames in there, btw. Subliminal?

[@OUTDOORS55]

No something it going on with youtube lately. Its in other people's videos as well. I also had trouble with a video last week and had to re upload.

[@A_Meek_lake_Dweller]

Do you ever use a steel? There are the ridged kind and smooth. Your thoughts on these would be appreciated. : )

[@honzakmenz7064]

They work really god as far as you use them properly. My dad used to bea chef so when he was teching me how to use a steel, man i will never forget the look on his face he looked like when he just stepped on a nail witha a bare foot

[@A_Meek_lake_Dweller]

@@honzakmenz7064 I just looked in the mirror while putting the steel to my knife and had the same look! Thanks for making me self concious! ; )

[@william1918]

@@A_Meek_lake_Dweller They work great.

[@450Xer]

Thanks for a great how to video.

[@ared18t]

I bought a bag of scrap leather for ten bucks and made eight strops with some pine i've had in the garage for a few years.

[@JonkDanube]

bandsaw blade flies out at him and his reaction was "that was cool"

[@tylerkrug7719]

Oh ya this is going to be a good strop! Lol. Nice

[@Sam-w9des]

link for knife?

[@hazzardoutdoors]

I assume with this you wouldn't use compound

[@OUTDOORS55]

No just the spray 🙂

[@WakeRunSleep]

What’s wrong with a $20 stop on Amazon?

[@kevinAuman1]

Eyyy, snapped bandsaw blade is a damn good excuse to make a damascus billet lol cut up the blade and add a lil 1995 powder and wahala

[@zardiw]

I bet Titebond III would work very well....................Z

[@Robo-dr8tk]

👍👍👍

[@mikeking6686]

FLEA MARKET LEATHER BELTS ARE .50, PAINT STIRS ARE FREE AT THE HARDWARE STORE

[@richardcranium6554]

The strop has 2 sides, bro. I put 2 pieces of leather on mine. Smooth. And Rough. (Ruff!)

[@gregkis]

How you gonna steal my comment

[@richardcranium6554]

@@gregkis by answering first? Ha. How about "brilliant minds think alike"?

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thats a good idea, and ive done it before, but I typically dont like double sided strops because they get contaminated when I sent them down on my work bench. 🙂 Just my experience though👍

[@richardcranium6554]

@@OUTDOORS55 that i can understand. I strop at my kitchen table.....that, btw, has two mini vises installed on it. I live in a tiny two room hunting camp. Fits the theme nicely, which is "women are welcomed to visit, but no, you cannot move in. Ever." Ha!

[@gregkis]

@@richardcranium6554 👍

[@oceanwaves83]

I learned from "Crichael Misty" the importance of diamond carbide.

[@williamminyard5517]

I've been using my portable band saw like that for 26 years.

[@richardflaherty2373]

nice video; thanks. I order a strop from you website.

[@ohioknifelover]

Hey Alex

[@OUTDOORS55]

Hey!

[@ohioknifelover]

OUTDOORS55 What is the kind of glue and activator you used?

[@gregkis]

His name is outdoors

[@ohioknifelover]

SeagullG Well the name of his channel is OUTDOORS55 but his name is Alex! 🙂

[@georgevrontakis1106]

Hi Alex, great video as always. Can you tell us how do you clean this strop and with which product? Thank you in advance

[@kirkjohnson9353]

Yeah, what happens when it quickly fills up with metal particles?

[@mateobrainardo4770]

@@kirkjohnson9353 SWARF!