For anyone wondering: The polishing compound is usually sold under the name “jeweler’s rouge”. It most commonly comes in waxy, crayon like blocks or paste. Amazon has a big selection. For honing the edge of blades green, yellow, and white are commonly used. Green is fine, light yellow is very fine, and white is ultra fine. If blocks are the only thing available and you’re having trouble getting it on the strop; shave the block and mix the shavings with small amount of mineral oil. After a soak and some mixing, you should get a paste consistency that’ll adhere to the strop better. Happy sharpening!

Refreshing to see a channel still doing real woodwork and workshop projects Paul. All too many start off well then as they gain sponsorship end up being nothing more than commercials for the likes of Festool ,Axeminster ect . Well done for keeping it real .

i love seeing guys still using the vintage cordless saws

That's a great tip for using the underside of the strop. I would've never thought to charge the exposed wood as a flat-side polishing surface.

Excellent explanation of both how to make it and how to use it. The idea of using the solid wood bottom of the pad for polishing the bottom is excellent! Side note : you didn’t mention it, but you use the raw, untanned side of the leather piece, which has a velvety touch and retains compound better.

Really like the new workshop. The sound and lighting is great. Paul and Co, you have all done a wonderful job. Looking forward to watching and continue to learn real woodworking. Thank you

"I've used this for 50years...." sold.

Great to see you in the new shop!

Your ideas are amazing - thanks a lot for this!

As usual: simplicity and usefullnes. Thanks😊

SIMPLICITY at it's easiest another great tip PAUL!!!!!

Nicely done. Thanks again, Paul, for a genius tip. The underside charged with compound for the back of the chisel is a new tool in my arsenal now.

Very good! That’s how I do it. Thanks for posting.

Once more, excellent stuff! Using the underside for removing the final bur is a great tip! Thank you!

Great as usual! Simple, direct, minimal fluff, right - on usefulness!!

Always a great video from Mr. Sellers

My man Paul, always making and doing the best with a minimum of fuss and with his own flair - you changed my way of thinking about tools, work and my outlook on life even! Thanks for posting this and all you do to make us all more self sufficient people!!

Very simple to make never thought of using double sided tape thanks again Paul. The new premises are looking great

Another brilliant video, demonstrating the frugality of Mr. Sellers. Love it.

Right sharp for an old fellow. Thanks again, sir.

Going to make one now, I've all ways just used a thick piece of loose leather on the bench top but it's time to retire it and make a new one like yours. Thanks for sharing Paul

Lovely. Thank you.

Perfect, plus some tips on using it. Love how used the under side 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I made one after watching a previous video you did and it's been absolutely brilliant.. so useful to have for sharpening 👍

I recently made a strop after seeing you use them in other videos. What a difference they make on edges! I enjoyed the tip about using the back to polish the flat of the blade. Thanks very much.

I have been using MDF with compound for polishing, does a great job.

Great video! I bought a home made one at a barn sale yesterday. I will check the condition of the leather and see if it needs to be replaced. Thanks again.

Thank you. You are a genius. Today I made one. Your a great teacher. It made me feel good to actually make something that works. Love your videos.❤

Lucid, intelligent advice. Great product for little money. This lad knows his business.

Good skills Paul. Loving your work.

Very nice, as always, sir. Thank you.

I’ve been waiting for this video for Year’s!! Thank you so very much Mr. Sellers!

Brilliant! I never thought of using and old jacket.

Thanks for great tip Paul!

Excellent tip! And economical.

Not my usual method, but highly functional, and equally usable.

Thank you Paul.

Wow, you have sharp tools!

Love it! Didn't use compound or wood. Going to make tomorrow and order some compound.

thanks from California

Thanks Paul. I was think of making one.

When I first started working with hand tools I always spent my money on tools and never had any leather laying around, so I just used a piece of maple that I smoothed with my #4 and used harbor freight buffing compound directly on the wood. Now I have leather but I swear it doesn’t do that much of a better job!

When excellence meets simplicity.

Paul thanks for all that you do. Saw a purse at the thrift store the other day. Maybe I'll get some looks from the ladies there when I ask if it matches my outfit.

I did one from an old handbag right before the woodworking masterclasses site started (2012?). Remember looking really long to make sure it was a) real leather b) right side of leather (other side was "polished") up.

good info paul. thanks

Awesome much appreciated

Always learn something

Haha, Sellers Tape! Great Tips!

My wife has so many bags now I’ve found a use for them 😉😂

I like to use autosol metal polish on my strop too. Works very fast

Paul, you are like the English Norm Abram. I like the fact you measure in English too. Love your vids. It would be great if you added something like Norm' s iconic safety glasses tip to the beginning of your vids too.

This man deserves a Knighthood for services to Carpentry👏👍

Bah. I think when I was starting out (It's been a while, can't recall for sure)... I was trying to do the FLAT side of the chisel on my leather, too. Probably part of what was making my sharpening seem to take too long back then. I never really thought about it, but I was obviously causing a bit of rounding at the cutting edge, where it should have been kept perfectly flat. I also need to choose a better grade of plywood than what I had, so this buffing compound on the bare wood idea will work properly.

I've never used a strop before so this was interesting to me. One question, on the leather... if you have a smooth side and a rough side which side should be facing up? Thanks for the great content.

This is great. It would be better if you would be more specific on what type of leather and which side of it should be exposed in the block. Thank you!

Great

Hurrah and thank-you. Nice to be with you again. Do you glue the shiny side of the leather down, rougher side up?

Nice minimal supplies method. Not everyone has 10oz horse butt and barge cement lying around!

Pauls scrap plywood board is huge. I need more scrap.

Dumb question... Which side of the leather do you want to actually use for the strop? Which side is stuck to the base?

Sellers-tape, splendid stuff. 🤣

I glued the leather on simply with wood glue. The hair side of the leather needs to be sanded if it's shiny. I glued leather on both sides, one side bark and one side shiny.

Need some o that tape, me. Was hoping you provided a link. But question: d'ye recondition the leathar if/when too much old compound buids up on't. Or just attach a new strip.

Nice to see a craftsman actually making something with hand tools, rather than using a whole workshop full of table saws, belt sanders etc

thanks Paul, where do you get your leather? How thick is the one you use please?

It's hard to see in the video. Do you use the rough side or smooth side of leather to polish?

A piece of plain wood or mdf charged with compound works just as well for me. If you want a softer feel, cut up your old denim jeans. They'll last you for many years (unless you wear 'skinny jeans,' in which case you should be watching Matt Estlea's channel!). Can't find dedicated polishing compound where I am, so have to use car paint cutting paste, which works fine - shaving sharp and ready to gouge.

I heard you can even use denim from an old Jean instead of leather is that true what else can you use

Thanks for the tip on making my strops. Question; the leather I have has and smooth finished side and a rough side, can either side be used or is there a preference? I've noticed some suppliers sell two-sided strops with both sides, is there a reason for this? Thank you for your channel.

Do you need the compound to remove the brr?

What is the replacement for Compound?

Made it a few months ago, I used spray glue.

The sound of a shop plane is music to my ears.

do you use the shiny side or the flesh side? (hairy side)

Hi, which way up does the leather go?

Thanks for making woodworking more easy and accessible to every beginner like me. I have two questions if I may ask: Is that green polishing compound made by Silverline? I notice you use a soft suede: what's the pros and cons of using that, instead of a more hard leather like shell cordovan (AKA horse butt leather, that everyone suggests to use for stropping)?

Can I use something else instead of leather? I have seen people strop on the MDF directly, can that work?

Does the double sided tape work as good as glue??? Does it provide a secure hold to the leather?

Great video, congratulations and one question! What do you think about putting together the sharpening stones and the strobe in a single board? Thanks and regards from Gran Canaria Island!

Anyone curious about finding leather, Hobby Lobby sells packets of about 3 squared off pieces for $2.99 a packet. There were about a half dozen packets on the hook today. Each seems to have at least one piece that measures about 6"x9". Just find a piece that has the texture you want. I've never had luck at Michael's. If you don't have a scrap board around, I got a piece of .75x3.5"x4' at Home Depot for about $2.30.

I got a strop i ended up buying, which has a smooth side and a rougher hide side of it. Whats the difference, and how do i strap it down to wood?

Is this a remake of the one you did before?

what brand of knife is that?

Do you youse the rough side up or the fine side up?

Which side of the leather up?

I suggest, one side suede and one side smooth - and glue them both (not tape).

Hi Paul. Is there any sort of maintenance needed? I find it becomes slippery after some time. Could you explain how to clean up the clog?

Ive always thought i needed specific leather for a strop. So i can make one out of an old leather tool belt?

I tried using a stop like this but all the buffing compounds I tried barely attach to the strop, they are so hard. Seems to be made for polishing wheels on machines. How can I see the difference between these compounds? Pauls seem to load very easily to the strop

Now I understand why barbers use a strop. Seen it done, but never really knew why.

Rough side of the leather is up, right?

anyone know the brand or the name of the knife he is using looks great

would have been nice to tell us what type of leather and the weight.

I don't understand the tape used and them taken off. What is it?

Rough side or skin side of the leather?

Maybe everyone knows the answer, but, which side of the leather do you have uppermost?

New watch!

Not sure why tape, I use glue (us. spray adhesive or contact adhesive), perhaps less messy? Good tip about using the hard back for polishing the back(/removing the burr?); that would improve stropping efficiency and effectiveness in some cases. Some recommend not using leather at all (esp. for flat bevel Swedish carving tools), to keep the bevel as flat as pos. To keep the strop clean, some recommend making a box for your strop but I make mine with handles and place them in a big jar on my bench, like a bunch of flowers in a vase! :D

Good alternatives to double sided tape?