How to Sharpen Gouges and V Tools with the Flexcut Slip Strop

www.treelineusa.com/sharpenin...
The Flexcut Slip Strop is one of the handiest sharpening products on the market for sharpening woodcarving gouges, v tools, and even knives. In this video you will learn tips and techniques on how to properly use the Flexcut Slip Strop. To purchase your Flexcut Slip Strop please visit us at www.treelineusa.com. We look forward to serving you!

[@rebeccamccannell3049]

Excellent description! I'm going to share this with my printmaking students!

[@ramilmakinano5402]

Hey that was so clear to me. Thank you so much. Love from London. x

[@DanDDirges]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@ultramajik]

You'd think I could figure this out on my own...I guess not. Great instructions! Thank you!

[@glensiu2315]

Thanks for the demo,, I just purchase the Flexcut slip strop today.

[@gloriadistefano2410]

Great demonstration, thank you.

[@digramma_NL]

Excellent instructions! Thank you!

[@tedmalin5666]

Holy cow! This is going to improve my carving experience. Thank you for this clear explanation.

[@StarscreamsGirl]

thank you for such a clear demonstration! i've been scared to try as i was afraid of rounding the edge, but your explanation makes a lot of sense.

[@rockybosarge]

Thanks PJ this has been a great help for me and gives me confidence to sharpen my Flexcut set.

[@maureenfranks4899]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you!😊

[@DigitalBhangari]

This tutorial is incredibly professional

[@thomaschainey3230]

Great video thanks. Glad I watched as now I know it is easier than I thought to use mine.

[@k9insomniac783]

I love my slip strop. One of the best investments next to tools.

[@ludouglas1]

Dang!! I wish I’d thought to find yr video sooner. I hope I haven’t ruined my tools!! Thank you so much. Lu in Australia

[@jakeschneider7738]

Thank you for this video.

[@annikagroebner7534]

excellent tutorial, thanks

[@darrylweartpipingancamping]

Very well made video, thank you 👍😎

[@erinpennerfoulkes5943]

Great video

[@davidhowse6946]

Thank you. Have a slip strop on the way from Lee Valley Tools. Awesome tutorial on how to sharpen a couple of old carving tools.

[@ragtaghero84]

Great video. Thank you.

[@begosanchezfotografia9304]

Thanks a lot, very well explained and very useful.!!!!!!!

[@stacygerlich5807]

AWSOME. I love your videos

[@zerowheeler]

Fabulous, thanks!

[@Peter-od7op]

Ty so much. Going to build flint lock rifle need this tool.

[@ness8193]

Thank you!

[@heathpaull1553]

Thanks!

[@edwardsparanormal]

That was the best explanation how to use this device for sharpening. I watched others and was not comfortable trying any of their teaching. Thanks!!

[@treelineusa]

Thank you for your kind words Michael! Happy carving.

[@michelegrand3921]

Merci beaucoup pour cette belle démonstration ! Le slip strop que vous montrez est particulièrement efficace et je trouve que composé de polissage jaune est le meilleur à tous points de vue. C’est celui qui dure le plus longtemps aussi. À conseiller donc. Merci pour le partage, Michèle

[@treelineusa]

Thank you Michele!

[@angelamcdonagh1026]

Thankyou 😊

[@jenniferstone2975]

Thank you! Your presentation and easy instructions are clear and concise. Love the tip about applying marker to the blade surface!

[@katherynlamarche7308]

Thank you so much .Was very helpful. Julien Lamarche

[@user-io9ln1or7c]

Thank you Sir.🎉😅

[@bryanmoir3184]

Bought one!

[@douglaslivingston6127]

thank u sir

[@shaileshmd71]

Thanks a lot. I am a new bee carver. I did buy the leather strop that you have demonstrated. This is the first time the ” real” technique was taught by someone. I do have a question about snapped Pfeil gauge. I was carving a hardwood tree spirit eyes. The tip of the U tool D11/3 snapped off. Can it be sharpened with this technique, without using sharpening stone?

[@treelineusa]

Good question! Usually a strop is designed to maintain or fine tune a edge. The polishing compound in incredibly fine and removes very little material (imagine using super fine grit sandpaper). If the tools is very dull, rounded or in this case damaged you will need to use something more abrasive first to bring the edge back. Diamond or ceramic sharpening stones work well for that. Once you have the edge back then use the strop to put that final edge on it.

[@TrevorDennis100]

My goodness. That is a must have tool, and I learned some useful tips into the bargain. I ruined the first v gouge I owned trying to sharpen it, but I now have a better idea how to go about it. I'm hoping I can get a Slip Strop to me here in New Zealand.

[@TrevorDennis100]

Yep. Carbatec had them in stock.

[@Jadeedoll]

Very clear, thank you. I do have a question, do you need to clean the compound off of the strop ever?

[@treelineusa]

Great question. You really should not have to clean it off that often. If you feel that the compound is loading unevenly then you can take the back side of your knife and scrape off a few layers and reapply the compound. You just want to see new "black" coming off the knife fairly evenly across the strop.

[@Jadeedoll]

Treeline USA thank you!

[@DavGQK]

@treelineusa can you use the device on woodturning tools? Excellent video thank you very much

[@treelineusa]

Great question. Some of the profiles would fit some turning tools, but this is really fine. Usually turning tools do not require as much polishing/honing as woodcarving tools.

[@joer5627]

Well done video. Regarding comments on compound, I saw you suggestion about trimming away an amount when it gets hard. Is there anything I can spray on it to soften it up as well? Thank you again. A good explanation.

[@treelineusa]

Good question Joe. I have not heard of anything that can be sprayed onto the compound to soften it, but maybe someone else reading these comments can make a suggestion. I have heard of a few people putting the compound into warm water, but I have not tried it myself.

[@charliehart5991]

@@treelineusa I rub in a few drops of mineral oil on the stropping surface after applying compound. Works for me on slip strop or homemade leather strops.

[@tomweir8558]

Great vid . How do you clean the strop I have used one for a year or so . I think the compound has built up

[@treelineusa]

Easy! I just use the back of my knife and scrape off the excess compound. Then I can just reapply the compound and keep stropping. Good question!

[@stathissavvidis4889]

Η τεχνική σας πολλή οφελιμη

[@raysmith1028]

Thanks for the Video demo. Can you please advise the approx bevel you use? Ray

[@treelineusa]

Good question. If you have a good quality tool, I would try to match the bevel the manufacturer uses. Usually this is between 18 - 22 degrees.

[@earthangel8596]

I'm curious a couple weeks ago I ordered from Treeline one of these and it came with a yellow polishing stick that was as hard as dried chalk. Is there a way to get that softened up? Because it does not glide on as easily as I'm watching you in this video. I have tried to scratch or scrape it onto my stropping area but it does not work well.

[@earthangel8596]

Matter of fact I think it's old because I was just watching the rest of your video and my leather areas don't move like that,.. they are all dried out like Krusty cardboard! Maybe I needed sending an email to Treeline..

[@coolairaz]

Can you put too much compound on a strop. I loaded one up and for a while it seemed like the knife just slid down the leather. Was it sharpening correctly if the blade was at the correct angle? Also, if you load the leather with compound and only the blade end half is taking the compound off, am I not holding the blade flat? I think I am.

[@treelineusa]

Good questions. Generally, you cannot apply too much compound, but really only a light coat across the leather is required. You should see "black" coming off on the strop as you pass your blade across. This way you will know that it is working. Feel free to give us a call and I would be happy to help you over the phone.

[@grassyknoll4702]

my piece of gold compound seems hard and it doesn't rub off on the strop very well. Can this stuff go bad?

[@treelineusa]

Good question! The compound can dry and even harden a little over time but it shouldn't go bad. The compound is made from aluminum oxide and bound together. Even if it is really old it should still work (as long as it can spread onto the surface). You may try scraping off a little and see if it is a little softer as you get through the outer layer. If that doesn't work feel free to give me a call.

[@grassyknoll4702]

@@treelineusa sounds good... thanks so much...

[@paulyanney3151]

Which color sharpening compound do you suggest yellow? Or does it matter?

[@treelineusa]

Hi Paul. Good question. There are several different sharpening compounds available in a variety of grits and binding mediums. Some companies will designate the grits by the color but that does not always stay consistent between brands (a white in one brand may be a different grit than a white in another brand). We sell both the White Gold and the Flexcut Gold compounds. They both work great. The white gold might be a little softer and spread a little easier on the stropping surface, but both really do a good job. Here is a link to learn more. treelineusa.com/sharpening/strops-compounds/

[@cassetoi7903]

Hi there where can i buy your sharpening tool? Could you please tell me the price?

[@treelineusa]

Hi Casse! Here is a link to purchase that will also give you the current price. treelineusa.com/flexcut-slipstrop/

[@annae9579]

Hi there, is the slip strop for sharpening or just polishing?

[@treelineusa]

Great question. The strop is really just for honing/polishing a tool that is already pretty sharp. Think of it more like a maintenance process. If the tool is dull or damaged you will need to use something more abrasive first to get the bevel back to where it can be finished with a strop. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

[@annae9579]

@@treelineusa Thanks for the reply. What sharpening tool would you recommend to use before going on to use the slipstrop?

[@treelineusa]

@@annae9579 The sharpening system I use at home is the Razersharp Edgemaking System. You can also use a diamond or ceramic stone (sometimes even sandpaper) to flatten out the bevel of the tool in preparation for honing. Here are a few links. Razersharp System: treelineusa.com/sharpening/razorsharp-sharpening-systems/ Diamond and Ceramic stones: treelineusa.com/sharpening/diamond-sharpening-stones/ Feel free to give us a call if you have more questions. We are always happy to help.

[@schhh26]

is this also good for honing 0.5 mm gouges?

[@treelineusa]

It depends on the profile (curvature) of the tool. If you have a #9 or #11 that small it probably would not work, but if you have something more flat or open (like a #3, #5, or #7) then it probably would work great. If you have a small .5mm v-tool it would probably work if it is a 60 degree or bigger. Feel free to call if you have more questions.

[@SewWhittle]

What happens if you have a V-gouge that doesn’t fit in any of the profiles?

[@treelineusa]

Good question. As long as the V tool can fit over the profile then you can just sharpen one side at a time. Just press the V tool tight to one side and make a pass then press on the other side. The only V tools that this won't work with would be those with a really narrow angle (like the 30 degree V tools).

[@neonheadmutt]

What's a good way to store the slip strop?

[@gregblake2764]

I store mine in the clear plastic packaging that the slip strop comes in and keep it in a drawer. The main thing is to store it inside a drawer or box to keep dust from settling on it.

[@manyfeather2knives423]

Can’t find on your web site.

[@treelineusa]

Here is a link. treelineusa.com/flexcut-slipstrop/