Quote from Matthew Mizner on January 30, 2018, 7:16 am
Jason,
Stropping vs stoning is one of those many asked questions with the same answer I didn’t want to hear when I first started!
It depends on a few things, one of which Michael touched on. The type of wood is one factor. If you are using Basswood for instance, you can get away with stropping every 10-15 minutes. If you are using a harder wood like oak, you will need to strop more often. I will every couple minutes depending on what I’m doing.
Michael also touched on another factor...if you are making aggressive cuts, or using a mallet, you will need to strop frequently, and I find I take those gouges to the stone after being used with a mallet.
As for when to strop vs stone, it depends on the tool. Is it cutting well without much effort? When you cut, does it leave tiny lines in the wood from microscopic jagged edges on the edge? Eventually every tool will need sharpened, but if it’s cutting well, I would just strop until it needs touched up. Saves time and life of the tool.
There are other factors, but it’s early, I haven’t had my coffee and my brain isn’t workinG yet!
Jason,
Stropping vs stoning is one of those many asked questions with the same answer I didn’t want to hear when I first started!
It depends on a few things, one of which Michael touched on. The type of wood is one factor. If you are using Basswood for instance, you can get away with stropping every 10-15 minutes. If you are using a harder wood like oak, you will need to strop more often. I will every couple minutes depending on what I’m doing.
Michael also touched on another factor...if you are making aggressive cuts, or using a mallet, you will need to strop frequently, and I find I take those gouges to the stone after being used with a mallet.
As for when to strop vs stone, it depends on the tool. Is it cutting well without much effort? When you cut, does it leave tiny lines in the wood from microscopic jagged edges on the edge? Eventually every tool will need sharpened, but if it’s cutting well, I would just strop until it needs touched up. Saves time and life of the tool.
There are other factors, but it’s early, I haven’t had my coffee and my brain isn’t workinG yet!