How to sharpen and strop your skiving knife

A sharp skiving knife is essential for clean cuts on leather and makes all the difference in the final finish of your product.
A dull knife is completely frustrating to use and can be extremely dangerous.
Learning the art of sharpening your knives is a completely necessary skill in keeping your knives is peak working condition and adds to the enjoyment of your leather craft.
Purchase your Chartermade Skiving Knife here:
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How to use your Chartermade Skiving Knife: • How to skive leather u...
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[@ashhempsall9803]

Super clear and with added reason. Thanks, a great help 🍷🎩

[@gregsmith284]

Very cool, great job

[@Working_Man]

HAHA, It worked. Awesome. Thanks for the video.

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Keeping it simple. THANK YOU! No fancy jigs, or stones or any paraphernalia! SIMPLE. Cheers brother. Hope you're all doing okay over there; you've had a hell of a year.

[@bruno.schmeguel]

Thank you so much! It really helped

[@timothy9874]

I just got my knife a couple days ago… I am EXTREMELY Impressed at how sharp it is! Looks like this was a great investment. Thanks Chartermade!

[@tuloko16]

For finding the angle, putting my finger on the blade, so half is on the blade and the other half is on the stone or sand paper helps me find the sweet spot. Also, listen and feel carefully at the sandpaper and start with a bit shallower angle, so the cutting edge doesn’t touch the paper. Then start making the angle steeper as you forward stroke you will feel or hear the change once you are at the correct angle. It’s a fine balance because any steeper, and you will be dullung the knife. As for skiving, i found that more downward pressure then forward pressure gets me the best results.

[@davebolthouse3989]

May favorite is when you go “oof, that knife is razor sharp” almost like you surprised even yourself!

[@pauldavies689]

Great videos and full of info. Can you do a video of how to keep edge bevellers sharp please. Having a nightmare

[@patd7704]

Thank you thank you for this video. I don't have the best skiving knife. But it is what I have. Your video is helpful especially to a newbie. Thank you.

[@NewApologist]

Going toorder your skiving knife soon from Rocky Mountain

[@VHQ_C]

It's helpful, thanks you! if you have time, can you create a video how to sharpen pricking iron?

[@bkreep]

Awesome! I love how you explained the burr as the indicator. I've never heard that before and it absolutely helped me get that razor edge. Thanks!

[@timkrenz2891]

thank so much for answering my question your skiving knife is a workhorse for me thank you for your great skill in crafting such a wonderful tool for me tim

[@starfish3704]

Thanks so much from Munich! Liz

[@JRBrown0016]

Just purchased one of your knives and I hope I can keep a crazy sharp edge on it. I've always struggled with getting edges sharp. This video helped a lot.

[@garyjones215]

Terrick, please make another great video. Thanks Gary in Texas

[@JoseHerreramixtekosound]

Thank you, Chartermade!

[@wolkbergv2499]

Trust me the best skiving knife out there! Pure quality.

[@incrediblecontent4971]

Thank you very much. I was looking for that badly! That was an excellent training.

[@m.l.gleatheritems2598]

I always love watching your show

[@LudoVanSteen]

Good video, excellent explanation. now I understand. thank you.

[@anantharamba6832]

Greetings, thank you, was both informative and practical. Simple and effective. Dobappreciate this sharing of the tip and technic.

[@richardkatzman2066]

Great tip as always. One question; what side of the leather do you strop on? Do you ever strop on both sides of the leather strop? Best regards, Richard

[@sehtzek]

Thank you so much for this video. I have a couple of your knives on my wish list, but it really helped put an edge on my cheap skiving knife. I look forward to seeing what I can do with a good quality tool like you make.

[@FabriKateco]

Thank you so much. fab tutorial that is really helpful.

[@knifeandsheath1049]

Thanks. I just ordered my Chartermade skiving knife from Rocky Mountain Leather. I saw a review of your knife on LeatherToolz KZbin channel. He talked about how sharp the knife is and demonstrated by comparing with other knives.

[@dianedecrane5813]

Knife and Sheath they are a great company

[@JimRodgers]

Great sharpening tutorial. I've been struggling with skiving and I suspect part of the problem is the (lack of) sharpness of my knife. Looking forward to giving your process a try.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks Jim, Im sure you will be very surprised how much difference a sharp knife makes to the ease of skiving. Have fun

[@Lumoharo]

Terrick! I completely stopped using my Japanese skiving knife, because I just couldn't get it sharp. It came dull, which I kind of expected, and that was alright. Finally, I found someone, who can explain the sharpening technique, AND make it work! Thanks for sharing your craft! I'm glad I found your videos! Love from Denmark

[@CHARTERMADE]

I'm glad it could be of help to you.

[@nsreentarek3715]

Very nice video thanks for sharing it👏👏👍

[@alandrewgibson]

Nice work sir

[@jayplays568]

Thanks for this video, I had a couple of questions. When using the sand paper/sharpening stone, should I also run the knife along the sand paper/stone on the back side or should I only do it on the front side? The second question I had was, is it ok to use this method on other knives like an x-acto knife, or round/oval head knife?

[@earth_awakening]

Would love to see a video on sharpening a lip knife. Quite a bit different than this skiving knife.

[@bijasatterlee5725]

DO you use regular sandpaper for this? 1200 ... you call it water sand paper, is it different from regular sand paper that you put water on? Thank you! Can't wait to order a knife, doing it today!

[@heatmizer-jim6762]

THANK YOU! GREAT video with clear, concise instruction! What are the abrasives I should be using on the leather strop?

[@ericj1332]

Great vid! Thx mate.

[@okimoto3101]

Excellent video, how do I know if my sand paper can be e used with water?

[@larryvturner]

I learned essentially this method through trial and error and it took me a long time (years). I wish I had known about you years ago, it would have shortened my learning curve considerably. I have a stereomicroscope to assist in showing me if I am doing this correctly. Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge and skills, which are considerable.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for your message Larry, sometimes a few messages slip past but I appreciate when I get to read it.

[@Sancyo97]

Awesome! How often should we sharpen our knife?

[@BlkKeyCptl]

When you strop are you using just leather or do you put something on it.

[@stockholmgrapher]

Great video! Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thank you and your welcome. Regards Terrick

[@pridntfant]

I can just see how much in love you are with your craft , paying attention to every little detail. Love your videos, very helpful for someone new to the craft like myself. I was just wondering what kind of surface would also be good for skiving leather since granite is pretty expensive (well at least for a beginner who has to invest a lot into the tools at the beginning every penny counts..) if you want it completelly polished so the knife cannot be damaged, i have got some granite in the junkyard but the surface has little tinny holes and the knife seems to catch in every time it moves accross one. Would also appreciate some help with every other surface needed for leathercraft? For cutting i have a standard green cutting board and it seems that i have to really press hard when cutting which makes it really hard to cut accuratelly. For tooling/stamping obviously granite is the best option. Punching poly board is best right?

[@necromancerbb]

I had a couple of quick questions if you don't mind, vis-a-vis stropping, I got a strop "paddle" and one side has fine leather and the other is coarse leather. I also have the green and white compounds. What would be preferable to hone my skiving knife? I've very quickly realised (especially as my current project involves

[@MadMFox]

Great vid! I would like to see that leather clam on the wall behind you showcased.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Happy you liked the video, I had that clam custom made a couple years back by an incredible artisan in France. His name is Fred Moreau, we will be posting a "how to video" where you will see the clam in action. Regards Terrick

[@Matt-uw3bx]

Excellent video. This is great instruction that looks quite simple once I get the technique down. Thanks again.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thank you and so glad the video is helpful. Regards Terrick

[@jimfreeman3636]

I'm very glad to have found your site. Fantastic work both in steel and leather. I can see one of your little L'Indespensable finding it's way to my bench. I've been using wet paper to sharpen my plane blades for years and it works sooo well. Looking forward to more videos.

[@gerardb285]

Thank you! Your video is straight forward and to the point. What is the purpose and/or advantage of the rounded off corner on the skiving knife?

[@osirusj275]

Why need to strop it with compound after sharpening? What's the compound used...

[@amyacheson9609]

Mine strop didn't come with directions. Being a "strop beginner " I'm not confident that I prepared my strop properly, like adding oil first. I do leather work and I need a sharp knife! After watching a bunch of videos some are the same but them are very confusing...do I use a stone first and then the strop?

[@EmperorProtects4848]

Great video, thanks for sharing. It was actually quite different from what I expected.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for your comment, I hope the video helps with your sharpening. Regards Terrick

[@EmperorProtects4848]

@@CHARTERMADE it does indeed. I sharpen my normal knives on a regular basis, both with Waterstones and with guided systems, but your video is great in the way that it focuses on the real essentials and also covers some important hints like the lowered angle on the stropping. Thanks.

[@SuperCarolyn2009]

What are you using on the strop?

[@carollane8694]

Great video. As with all things there are different methods used and shown by different people according to what works for them. Sharpening tools has never been a strength of mine but thanks to you I now have some amazingly sharp and clean cutting skiving knives.

[@JayJay-sf2wn]

Thank you!!!

[@mrniceshoes2118]

What’s the white stuff on the leather what type of compound is that ?

[@lizaknittinggirl3745]

Thank you so much for this video. It´s very helpful. What is this on top of the leather? Looks like powder.

[@bearly1727]

Looks like jewelers polishing compound.

[@heyimamaker]

Really enjoying your videos :)

[@CHARTERMADE]

thanks for watching

[@sydneylmyers]

How does the burr form when doing the pushing motion? Wouldn't I have to pull in order for the metal to pull up and over the blade?

[@Rsama60]

I just discovered your channel, two thumbs up. I like you content on leather work and knives. I make knives too so I have a natural interest in your content. I like a mixture of small instructional vidoes like this sharpening one but full project like videos are good too. Keep on the good work. The knives that you make look really hicg quality and I assume they are, down to the smallest detail. What steel do you use?

[@zarinafernandes3831]

Thank you for the information you shared, I would be a first time user, my question to you is can I skive loft leather/ cow leather with the knife, would be great full if I get a reply from you. And also could you tell me where to buy stroping water sand paper and leather piece.

[@zarinafernandes3831]

Soft leather

[@daverooni7763]

If we use 1200 grit for the water paper, what should we use for sharpening stones? Still 1200?

[@The21tillidie]

Thanks

[@bella-bee]

I knew the sharpie trick, but all that shows me is I’m working with uneven pressure, missing parts of the edge, even though I’d swear I wasn’t! So I put my fingers over that part, and still I have trouble. I don’t think my stone is concave, but might it be time to level it?

[@jackmiddleton2080]

Does it matter if you push or pull the knife on the sandpaper?

[@sontungdinh726]

Thank you for a very educational video. There is one thing I really want to ask is that when you finish the front side with sand paper, can you do the same with the back side? I don't have a stropper.

[@seandepoppe6716]

Use A scrap of leather

[@bella-bee]

If you’ve got a knife with a nick or some imperfection, what grit stone or sandpaper would you start with to even it up again, before you get to polishing, please?

[@deankay4434]

Barber shops used strips for decades but with a jeweler rouge is I am not mistaken. With the stroll, skin side up, what material do you work into your strop?

[@elliotbegley]

In my shop, I’ve got multiple strops with multiple polishing compounds. I start with a course polishing compound on the back then move to a finer compound, and finish on the front side with no polishing compound. Takes a while, but works for me!

[@UriValdez]

What grit of sand paper is that?

[@m3rkaba86]

What contact adhesive do you use? And do you just scrap it off when you're done.

[@pequodexpress]

I prefer sharpening in one motion going forward, yet I see many people use a to and fro motion.

[@dperisty1]

What kind of stone would you recommend? Are Diamond stones ok (Trend or DMT)?

[@debbies6266]

Hi, is it possible to buy your tools in the EU?

[@dianedecrane5813]

You can do this for round knives too, right?

[@JacquesdeKlerk03]

Great video, thanks Terrick! When stropping, do you use a polishing compound?

[@CHARTERMADE]

Hey Jacques, Yes I do add a polishing compound, I will send you one of my strops with your knife :)

[@JacquesdeKlerk03]

CHARTERMADE 😃

[@V3leathercraft]

Is it ok to sharpen it in 240 paper?

[@gardnerwebb3749]

Terrick how would you sharpen your awl?

[@phillipmarufu2453]

Great i almost ruined mine after sharpening it using grinder