Making A Stropping Wheel: Get that Knife Shaving Sharp!

[@BlackBeardProjects]

I recently made a wheel just like this one :) I feel like I can give you guys a couple of suggestion: If you don't have a lathe at all you can make a pretty good circle with a router and then turn it true when it's mounted to the motor. Then you can also turn the whole bench grinder the other way so that the wheel is spinning away from you and at that point you can work on the top of the wheel :)

[@reneemills-mistretta790]

ThankQ for your input, it helps me big time.👍

[@MrMd5555]

Damn good advice!

[@chstoney]

I just want to thank for this supertb tip. I made the wheel yesterday and it works like a charm. I was never able to re-sharpen a knife in a matter of seconds before.

[@divorcelab]

Really great presentation, audio clarity is far better than most. Thank you.

[@fivebranchfarms1137]

Walt your videos taught me how to forge and I heat treated my first knife today

[@lhinarizona6658]

I made one last year, but I don't have a lathe! I trued mine by mounting it on the bench grinder and using a small vise as a rest and a wood chisel. I use it by turning the bench grinder backwards and stropping on the top of the wheel. This way it is turning away from me and if the knife does catch, it's thrown against the wall.

[@SharpWorks]

For a little extra safety/ease of use, you could flip around your bench grinder and strop the knife on the top of the wheel so if it catches the blade, it'll throw the knife away from you. Thanks for the video, it's giving me the urge to make one myself.

[@kamikazekunze]

High quality shots, Check, good lighting, Check, great content, Check, shirt straight out of the hamper with flipped collar, Check!

[@alansloop1243]

This is possibley the greatest thing I've learned on KZbin .

[@glennwiebe5128]

Thanks for this Walter. I think that sharpening is either a lost art or one that has never been given its proper focus, at least here in the West. If you make a great blade what's the point if you can't make it sharp. I've been sharpening knives for years for friends and family. My very rudimentary but effective routine is short. I have a worn out 120 grit belt that I use to bring the edge back to the factory profile or establish one that should have been in the first place. Then I went to the buffing wheel/mop with a fine compound. Worked great for years, even on the knives I made myself. I happened to be in the shop of a local guy who has been around for donkey's years. One of the things he had that caught my eye was precisely what you just made. The only thing different was that he *turned the grinder around so that the rotation was going up and away from him*. That way, he had the knife on the top giving him better sight lines and if, by any chance, there was an issue, the knife would be thrown away from him completely. I went home and immediately made one from two sheets of 1/2" grade A plywood. After turning it, I gave it a light sand and then charged it. Now the buffing wheels are relegated to polishing bottle openers, blah, blah, ad infinitum. Thanks for the tut. Keep forging!

[@TheGreatBooger]

Really enjoy your vids. You have helped me come a long way as a knife maker and now this. Awesome idea, can't wait to make one for my bench grinder.

[@chadhutchins646]

Just a beginner here Walter but these videos are a huge help. Thanks for the great tips.

[@jamesoconnell9396]

Get yourself a stick of 'Zam', this polishing compound is the best I have ever seen! Gold, silver, copper, aluminum, brass/bronze, high carbon steel... Zam is the best lapping/honing compound I have ever seen!!!

[@johnmood5653]

James, where would one find "Zam" and what country are you in? I'm based in the USA, and I never heard of it. I've used "Flitz" for polishing jewelry and badges and such, & find that Jeweler's Rouge and finishing rouge works quite well.

[@jamesoconnell9396]

John, almost every jewelers supply shop should carry it, I use 'Indian Jewelers' here in New Mexico, but Rio Grande Jewelers has it as well. I personally try to stay away from Rio, They mark up their stuff too much, but hey, I am cheap...It is a product of Grobet USA, Carlstat NJ. My three inch bar is now seven years old...

[@ibrahimi.2109]

Greatings from Turkey, Thanks for every information Mr. Sorrells.

[@th_blck_knght]

How thin/sharp do you grind your blades before moving onto sharpening? Could you maybe talk about the magical treshold of grinding-sharpening in some video?

[@philipprigmore8723]

Even after sharpening knives for about 57 years now, I am still open to learning how to do it easier and faster for the same or better results. Thanks.

[@coen8323]

Philip Prigmore nice to an older guy not bashing someone because his sharpening methods are different

[@nihallee]

How crazy! I just did that project last week! I went to home depot and ask for scrap MDF. They had 5/8 so I glued 2 pieces together; rough cut to a round; drilled the center hole and turned it true right on my grinder using a normal wood chisel. Works like you say (a charm) ! I sure save time resharpening the kitchen knives !!

[@MaulikThaker]

Do they give out free like that?

[@nihallee]

@@MaulikThaker , they had charged me just $1 for 4 pieces. So almost free ;o) Cheers.

[@MaulikThaker]

@@nihallee Thanks :) I just did with the wood piece I had hanging around from my old cabinet. Did the job well, thanks.

[@tankerseton]

really good videos man, never stop!

[@kylejay6128]

Another important note on the topic would be that on smaller knives, this technique does run the risk of overheating the blade edge and taking out the temper from overheating. The temper is vital in maintaining the most durable edge possible-edge retention and toughness especially.

[@gustavjanson9682]

Nice. I would also be interested in a video about how to deal with warped blades after heat treat and flattening warped/bent bar stock.

[@FelishaWild]

I made one of these a week or so ago. I cut 2 wheels on my CNC router with the hole cut for the arbor and the washers. Using CA adhesive to glue the wheels together and used a flat scraper from my wood lathe and the tool rest I trued it up right on the grinder. BTW I made my wheels 9 inches in diameter because I had the space. Works great. :)

[@SL-ez7qn]

Another good video and some very useful tips from Q and A. Love your channel. I’m going to make one of these

[@LayneXIII]

Love your honesty. Great channel. I'm working over a cheap Walmart knife with tips from your videos. Thank you.

[@mostalajnen66]

Great DIY video !

[@jeverettrulz]

great vid and info as always! and thanks for the quick ship on the hamon dvd!

[@geoffflato6065]

I usually just use the hard sewn wheel on my buffer for this. might try making one of these next time I have the scrap MDF though

[@aidencauger5743]

made my first knife today after watching your video on making a machete with no power tools. of course, I did use a drill press and bench grinder, but that's about it. you taught me how to heat treat and temper a knife and I'm grateful. also, that is one quiet bench grinder. Where do I get one??

[@jmakes3745]

you should try a birds eye mount for the camera above the lathe, so you don't have to worry about getting your arm in the way :) -great vid as always walter :)

[@danielkiefer8134]

Try turning the motor around on the cradle then you can sharpen on top of the wheel and in the event of a flyer it chucks it away from you. My dad uses a wheel on all his leather tools and has good success with it. Great videos and beautiful work!

[@lretxxz]

Real men don't need a reason to DIY anything... even knowing you can buy it. Made, not bought. I'm sure you're proud of it. Well done : D

[@o.w.i.m]

Thank you Walter this will help me alot.

[@pazzy4501]

Well done 👍🏻, do we have to shape a dull blade surface by a rough stone 1st or we shall go for the wooden wheel only?!! Thanks in advance, keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@asc3ndantone]

Is the polishing compound absolutely necessary? What if I do it straight on the mdf?

[@billmcyrus]

What would you say the difference or advantage is, if any, between a wheel for the bench grinder versus a stropping belt for the belt grinder?

[@ronsites2694]

Another great video.

[@mvred100]

great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@1903A3shooter]

WHAT R.P.M. is that wood rated at??? I have seen grinding wheels blow up and it is not a nice thing to be standing in front of.

[@christopherneelyakagoattmo6078]

I just hope he has the camera rolling if/when it happens...

[@jamesoconnell9396]

You know, I have been around grinding wheels for 30 plus years. Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, vitreous bond, different makers, and different grades. BUT, I have never had a wheel 'blow up' on me because I have always ring tested them. Tap on the edge of the wheel with a good hard piece of maple...If it rings, you are good to go, if it sounds flat, or doesn't sound at all, throw it out.

[@dg5450]

What are you talking about having a spinning wheel blowing up in front of you feel like a soothing message

[@redangrybird7564]

@@jamesoconnell9396 I think the question of an exploding wheel was referring to a stropping wheel made out of MDF. Anyways here is a question I have, Can I break in pieces a cracked aluminium oxide wheel and use the pieces to dress similar grinding wheels? Thanks in advance for your reply.

[@L96A1BM]

Walter, I'm currently new to stropping and my problem is I always seem to strop off some of the coating of the flats of the blade and tips on how to prevent this?

[@ryanbishop3343]

What do those who don’t have access to a lathe do Mr. Sorrells ?

[@socketman]

If I have no lathe, would it work to make it round as possible by hand, and then maybe mount it to the grinder and then true up the outside circumference from there?

[@geoffflato6065]

Revrant I've trued contact wheels up by chucking them in a lathe and using a piece of sandpaper on a block to smooth it down. I'd be willing to bet it would work on this using the bench grinder as power.

[@CKKnifeandTool]

I thought most of us came here to watch for your fashion tips and witty banter?! ;)

[@mjrwey]

Can you sharpen flat blades with this method.....like chisels and hand planer blades?

[@MrTimmmers]

A really cheap way I once did was a smaller piece mounted on a bolt in a drill clamped in a vice. Trued up with a sanding block.

[@C2FUX]

saw you on forged in fire , enjoyed it, nice video walt

[@Layarion]

i wanna know, as a noob with no equipment or sharpening system, which power tool kit/method I should take for the power tools life of sharpening my kitchen knives? I don't care about guide or free hand stones, just point me in the right direction for the power tools way.

[@billrutledge2441]

are you still going to do a 2nd video on your experience at Forged in Fire?

[@jodyfree953]

Thanks for this

[@driveitlikeyastoleit55]

You can turn the mdf on your bench grinder if you don't own a lathe. Just make it as round as possible before trying to turn it. I used this method many moons ago and it worked fine. Same wheel still in use after 10+ yrs.

[@luciancaliman1617]

Ich liebe es mittels guten Ideen Geld zu sparen und dabei auch noch handwerklichen Spass zu haben. Tolles Video, gut erklärt. Danke.

[@NotonlyWood]

Lucian Caliman Das sehe ich ganz genau so👍👍

[@shanerichardson9568]

Any time you can save money it helps. I like his ideas also.

[@TheHotEndChannel]

Link to eBay to buy one ?

[@davidduffy9806]

Brilliant, just what I needed

[@sky-magnet]

Is that the 8 inch delta grinder?

[@xaviero9821]

Do you have to use MDF?

[@IIISWILIII]

Lol at the accountant analogy!! Too true

[@redsky8509]

behind my wheel (I sharpen blades a lot, as I need sharp blades for cutting leather) I put Card Board, several layers behind the wheel to catch blades if they fly.

[@Tome4kkkk]

Why do you lift the heel up like that while polishing on that wheel while you keep your knives level when working on the belt grinder? I mean, aren't the contract areas on both basically the same as far as microbevel contact goes?

[@vernonthompson7695]

Walter, G'day coach, When mounting a stropping wheel to a grinder motor, what would you say if 'about-faced' the motor and used the upper quadrant for stropping? That way it has less chance of 'grabbing' my knife/chisel/gouge. I'm an 'apprentice' wood carver (aged 75 almost) and I really don't like pointing my blade dow in an awkward position. It's different on my belt sander; I have a ledge. Also when using a knife (ledge removed), I feel more relaxed because the blade is easier to hold at a horizontal position. Of course, it means I'll need to reach over the machine to start it. But that can be done safely. On the other side (left), I have a wire brush-wheel, and I have often had it snatch the item out of my hand (banging the tool into the wheel ledge, and sometimes trying to jam it). Cheers, Vernon Thompson, Hog Heaven Ranch, Seligman, AZ.

[@alexgolden8316]

This is funny, I made a wheel out of mdf because it was the only thing i could think of that would work. I came here to see what compound you used and when you said how you made the wheel I actually laughed. Anyways, I have a question. What is the rpm of your grinder?

[@highcountrychronicles]

Isn't MDF powder poisonous due to the formaldehyde content?

[@highcountrychronicles]

Or should I say MDF dust....

[@patrickinottawa27]

The problem with MDF dust is the fibers have the same shape as asbestos. There like little hooks, once they get down into your lungs you won't be coughing them out. That's why anyone cutting MDF will usually wear a high quality dust mask or even a 1/2 mask respirator. It may be different in your local, but I believe most manufacturers in North America stopped using formaldehyde adhesive's about ten or fifteen years ago due to the health issues. I also understand it was more in regard to the particleboard or pressboard used in the manufacture of "for example" melamine kitchen cabinets. Not sure if Formaldehyde was used in MDF production.

[@boriszaprudin1458]

Doesn't polishing at this speed overheat the very edge of the blade?

[@zohranbloedjes9770]

Not to critcise you I love your vid but when I made one of the wheels. I just driled a hole in a roundish piece of mdf and turned it Whit a chisel on the grinder itself worked great

[@ared18t]

He did it for safety reasons

[@mrz80]

I'm going to wind up doing that too, as I don't have a lathe. :D

[@carlosmatos9848]

Nice, now I've got a reason to finally buy that bench grinder.

[@MrDarkNebulah]

I have a wheel but the last owner got a knife stuck in it so there's a big gap in it. How do you recommend I fix it?

[@ironhead65]

MrDarkNebulah grind it down until round again, or start over with a new one. think safety as pointed out in the video... you don't need that thing tossing a knife into your heart!

[@oldgoat8132]

Can I use that wheel for polishing the rest of the knife?

[@firemansteve829]

My variable speed Delta bench grinder is probably the most used piece of gear in my shop.

[@wowguy3562]

Walter, seeing the amount of care you put into making your wheel, and the equipment in your shop, I have very high confidence you will end up with razor sharp knives. Thanks for showing how to get the job done right

[@DanGoodShotHD]

I watch to hear your Barry White smooth voice. Smoooth.

[@DouglasLoven]

I use my Harbor freight 1X30 with a very wore out 600 grit belt with green rouge. It's just as razory sharp as all that fancy business.

[@griffy85b]

Hey Walter, when are we going to see you on Forged in Fire?

[@johnmood5653]

He's already been on. Perhaps you'll see it in a binge watch when they start running them back to back all day.

[@extreamemineing]

i am kind of new to wood turning and i dont understand what he means by bowl chuck, does he just mean a scroll chuck or is there something i dont how about

[@MatthewBuntyn]

YeEpicTroll Pretty sure he's referring to a 3- or 4-jaw chuck

[@josephstaup8868]

What is the grinders RPM rating that is being used?

[@christopherneelyakagoattmo6078]

He said 3750 in the video.

[@lukearts2954]

4:08 you could fix that by moving your camera position to above the drill side. After all, the lathe turns so it doesn't matter which angle you're looking at it, it always looks the same. You can even turn the camera sideways if you really like this viewing angle (so rotate the camera position around the lave axis). Never any problems with arms anymore...

[@koskey06]

I drilled the hole suck it in my grinder and held a course grit oscillating sander to it. Was it the safest way.... no. Also made another by spinning it on a corded drill and touching it to sand paper

[@snakeplithkin]

Re: wheel spinning direction ("up" or "down")... if you remount your grinder in the right corner of your workbench-- and can stand comfortably at the bench side/end-- you can use the MDF wheel over the top (with guards removed) spinning away from you, and the have left-hand abrasive wheel still spinning in the conventional direction. I built this same kind of wheel about ten years ago, but went to a six-inch diameter because the slower surface speed was more forgiving and generates less heat. Things happen very quickly on eight-inch wheel at full speed... YMMV.

[@aluptown]

Mr sorrels do I have to normalize the metal ? They don’t do it on forged in fire ? I am doing this as a hobby . Thanks

[@MrJsteed2009]

Walter, I was curious after seeing many knife sharpening tests; does the Knifemaker ever run out of hair on his arm after all those demonstrations? LOL!

[@geoffflato6065]

James Steed yes. yes we do it's why knifemakers don't wear shorts

[@MrJsteed2009]

LOL! Great answer! ;-)

[@BassmasterCB]

Haha, my legs really look like a patchwork rug :D

[@glennwiebe5128]

It's a great way to start conversations!

[@64t120r]

Yes. Hahahaha.

[@futuresonex]

I'm a fan of using a $45 6" buffer from Harbor Freight along with a pair of leather Flexcut Standard Power Strop wheels. All in you're spending far more than just the $20 for a paper stropping wheel for your grinder, around $85 total for the buffer and a pair of leather wheels, but you're also not using up one side of your bench grinder. Also, you don't have to get 2 Power Strop wheels. One will do the job. You'll just be spinning the buffer around a lot. I use three different strops depending upon what type of edge I'm sharpening/stropping and what level of polish I want. If I want a true mirror polish -- one that still looks like a mirror even under the 80x magnification of a USB microscope (most 'mirror polished' edges look like a hacksaw blade under magnification) -- I use the kangaroo leather & Nano Cloth strops with my TSProf guided sharpening system along with multiple diamond stropping solutions going all the way down to 0.1 microns. For most uses, however, that's a little on the ridiculous side. So for the majority of the knives I sharpen I use either the aforementioned buffer & Power Strop wheels or a simple 1"x 30" belt grinder with a Surgi-Sharp leather stropping belt. The Surgi-Sharp belt is for knives with convex grinds. For everything else I use either the TSProf or the buffer/Power Strop setup depending upon the level of polish I'm looking for.

[@seanmilligan895]

can I start knife making with a bench grinder instead of belt grinder it's cheaper to begin with ? I can get one for 50$.

[@johnmood5653]

I imagine the medium and super fine grades of jeweler's rouge are also good to go. I've seen one opportunistic guy selling the cardboard version for $60.00, with 1/2 oz. containers of stropping compound said to be diamond dust. I have my doubts about his offer. I've got ideas about the fabric polishing wheels & jeweler's rouge in super fine...

[@scottrittiger5086]

I love you man!

[@berzerkrobot]

Ight, Im not a supporter on Patreon. Awesome videos!

[@VinaySingh-be6yo]

What is the RPM of wheel..???

[@66bigbuds]

I leveled mine on the bench grinder.

[@Covencraft]

Jasper circle jig with a plunge router

[@graphguy]

use a wheel or a veg tan leather strop strap?

[@ironhead65]

do you think this is better than a leather strop for my 1*30" belt grinder?

[@williammiller2307]

I have a very worn 120 belt I am using and it about polished the last couple knives I did on it

[@masterof1]

Are you gonna take another swing at Forged In Fire anytime soon?

[@87ericmartinez]

he already did

[@masterof1]

87ericmartinez I said another swing I have not seen him on there for a second time.

[@BRpunkRock]

Loading up one of your old worn out 2x72 belts with compound does the same thing.

[@MrMZaccone]

I much prefer leather stropping belts on a belt sander. It gives me better angle control and really gives me an insanely fine finish.

[@365maga1]

I think it's more your narrating voice that really got me going on or channel just saying!

[@censusgary]

I was surprised you didn’t sand that wheel after you turned it on the lathe. But I guess the first time you strop a knife on your wheel, you accomplish the same thing.

[@redangrybird7564]

Tomorrow I will head straight to the hardware store to buy a $5000 lathe to make a 18 dollar stropping wheel. Thanks for the video.

[@jamesgatchet8148]

I recently watched your video on youtube making a stropping wheel now if you take and make another one you can take aluminum oxide powder fine to medium coat wheel with a thin layer of wood glue lay some powder on paper or cardboard and roll wheel through the oxide powder lightly and coat wheel evenly coating all the face of wheel .than slide wheel on grinder shaft just to support until glue dries 24 hours . Ok now mount the wheel on your grinder now take a piece of angle iron turn grinder on take angle iron and lightly touch iron against wheel what you are doing is leveling the face of wheel now with wheel turning press wax against wheel coating it now rub iron against wheel until wheel is smooth this is done with a lite touch stop wheel exam wheel and you haven't removed the iron powder your ready to sharpen your knife ( REMEMBER DON'T PLACE BLADE WITH CUTTING EDGE FACING THE TURNING EDGE RUNNING THE WAY THE WHEEL IS ) Lightly press knife against wheel 1 or 2 times then turn around and run the same amount of times on the other side watch for burr to form then when you like the way it looks then stroup knife on the other wheel. Just remember don't place edge of blade into turning wheel it will throw or RIP knife out of hand causing injury. This process done correctly will not heat up blade. And at the beginning of each sharpening touch a couple times with wax and touch polishing compound a couple times to strop. If you do feel blade getting warm dunk in water. And use less pressure. This wheel should last for 50 to 100 or more knife sharpening . To Reload sharpening wheel take 36 grit cloth backed sandpaper and run against wheel until wheel is smooth and clean then reload as when new .

[@yassinebend3230]

thats a sharp video 😂😂😄😄😄

[@swingbelly]

Instead of mdf, can you use a piece of softwood or even plywood? Have lots of both in my scrap bin.

[@shanek6582]

Is there a reason you can't just use your buffing wheel?

[@jimmygrey6848]

Too soft and would deform over the edge of the blade, dulling it and likely flinging the knife into the ceiling. This essentially is a buffing wheel anyway, just a very hard one.

[@shanek6582]

That makes perfect sense, thanks

[@vikp6115]

Polished blade will shave but will not have enough grabbing power to cut few materials like rope, and stuff , too smooth knife will glide and not cut , so if you will polish ur knife , last thing tou want to do is change ur angle a degree and lightly run ur knife on like 1000grid stone to put some teeth back on the micro edge , wicked edge sharpening systems makes it easy to do.

[@seanfrederickson4065]

wouldn't it be safer if you turned the grinder around so it's spinning away from you?

[@choppy1851]

Agreed. That's what I do, too. A bit of a pain to rotate and screw/bolt down without a spare, though. Fortunately, picked up Grandad's that no-one else wanted. Saved me contemplating a benchtop lazy-susan ...

[@seanfrederickson4065]

Not if your using it on top. It would throw it away from you. If you use it way it is in the video it's gonna throw it any where from your waist to your feet. I'll take my chance of having thrown at the wall any day than have it thrown at me.

[@seanfrederickson4065]

go watch another video on sharpening wheels he's not first person to do this on youtube. everyone else has no guard on it. they have it turned around and they are using it on the very top so it will throw it away from you. you and walter can be the only ones who do it that way that's fine. so go head and do it that way and i'll do it the way.

[@marcus.s.]

Nice Shoulder😂😂

[@willybee3056]

tanx ,, good job,,,

[@Corpsegrinder138]

My 1x30 leather strop gets mirror edges and Razor sharp