Master Knife Sharpening: How to Effectively Use a Leather Strop
Blog / 06.08.2025
Master Knife
Sharpening:
How to Effectively Use a Leather Strop
The most important step in determining a reproducible sharpness with your HORL ® sharpeners, is the first sharpening process of your knife. The three tips that follow will help you understand why patience and the correct angle are your friends, how you can recognize and remove excess material, and the roles that the quality of the steel and the prior use and care of your knives play.
Choosing the Right Leather Strop
It may seem simple, but there are a lot of factors to think about when choosing a leather strop. You’ll want to consider the following:
Size and Thickness: Make sure it’s big enough for your knives.
Leather Quality: Go for high-quality leather for added honing effect.
Design: The types of strops (i.e., paddle, razor, and leather belt-mounted) are used in different ways and at varying levels. For example, paddle strops are usually reserved for beginners.
How a Leather Strop Works:
The Science Behind It
When you run the blade across the leather strop, it gently removes tiny burrs or rough spots left behind during the sharpening process. These imperfections, although microscopic, can affect how sharp and smooth your knife feels. The leather’s natural texture burnishes the edge, creating a cleaner surface without removing metal.
A microscopic "before and after" image of a knife edge, clearly illustrating how stropping with the finely pored surface of the leather removes even the tiniest particles of grinding residue to ensure a smooth, clean blade and professional finish.
Stropping vs Sharpening – What’s the Difference?
Sharpening removes small amounts of metal from the blade to create a new, sharp edge. This is done using sharpening stones or whetstones and is needed when a knife has become dull or damaged.
Stropping, on the other hand, doesn't remove metal or polish the edge. Instead, its main purpose is to clean the edge and remove any residual debris or microscopic particles left over from sharpening.
If you hear a scratching noise while stropping, it's often a sign that a burr is still present. That burr needs to be addressed with more sharpening before you can reach ideal sharpness. Stropping alone won't remove it, but it can help detect it.
How to Use a Leather Strop:
Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these instructions on how to strop to achieve a clean and sharp edge:
Step 1: Prepare the Strop
Place the leather strop on a flat/stable surface or secure it another way.
Step 2: Hold the Knife in
the Correct Position
the Correct Position
Hold the blade at approximately the same angle you used during sharpening (don’t stress about exact precision; the stropping process is forgiving).
Keep the blade flat enough against the strop to let the edge make contact without digging in.
Ensure the cutting-edge faces away from you.
Step 3: Stropping Motion &
Alternating Sides
Alternating Sides
Draw the blade across the strop. Use the same angle and apply light pressure.
Pull the blade towards you, leading with the spine.
Flip the knife and strop the other side.
Repeat 5-10 times on each side evenly.
Step 4: Test the Sharpness
Test the blade on a piece of paper or slice a tomato. A sharp knife should cut through it easily and effortlessly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Stropping Your Knife
When using a leather strop, certain mistakes can damage the strop or its edges. These include:
Too Much Pressure: Light pressure is enough. Too much will damage the leather.
Wrong Angle: While having a precise angle isn’t critical, using an angle that’s too steep or flat can reduce the knife strop’s effectiveness.
Stropping in the Wrong Direction: Always pull the blade spine-first across the strop. Moving the edge forward (edge-leading) can cut into the leather strop, potentially ruining both the strop and the blade's edge.
Neglecting to Clean Your Strop: A dirty strop that’s filled with metal particles or stropping compound buildup can hurt your stropping later on. Always wipe it down regularly with a damp cloth or use an eraser to remove any sanding dust.
FAQs About Using Leather Strops
Now that we’ve covered the basics of leather strops, let’s dive into some of the most common questions users have. From proper techniques to understanding how often to strop, these FAQs will help you get the most out of your sharpening routine and keep your blades performing at their best.
How often should I strop my knives?
Unlike honing steels, which can be used between sharpenings to realign the edge, a leather strop is used only after sharpening to clean and refine the edge. So instead of stropping daily or weekly based on knife use, simply strop your knife immediately after sharpening. This helps make sure you have a clean, precise edge and helps you achieve true sharpness.
Can I use a strop on all types of knives?
No, you can’t use a strop on all kinds of knives – but you can use it on most, as they are suitable for all smooth blades. That includes kitchen knives (other than fillet knives and serrated knives), chisels, straight razors, and woodworking tools.
Can you sharpen a knife with just a leather strop?
Stropping maintains the edge but doesn’t sharpen a dull knife. It’s best to use traditional sharpeners, such as the HORL3 Cruise or HORL3 Pro, and follow up with a leather strop to refine and clean your blades.
Do you have to use compound on a leather strop?
Stopping or buffing compounds enhance the process but aren’t strictly necessary. A plain strop can still improve sharpness.
Find the Right Leather Strop
From HORL ®
From HORL ®
No matter your skill level, the HORL System can sharpen smooth blades to a sharp edge. Whether purchased individually or as part of the HORL Premium Set additional whetstones, our high-quality leather strop is a reliable addition for properly cleaning the knife in the final step, helping to get the maximum performance out of your blades.
With the right tools and techniques, you can achieve sharp results every time, taking your cooking to the next level. Click here to shop HORL ® today.
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