On 2/11/2010 3:07 PM, Bill wrote:
I've ordered Silicon Carbide paper to 2000 grit
and have a flat slab of granite.

I have some left-over questions concerning "Scary Sharp".
Is using a leather "strop" an important part of the
"scary sharp" sharpening technique? Will the inside
of old wide leather belt (resting on the granite) work
for this? Any other compound suggested/required?
I can "roughen-up" the leather if that may help.

Thank you,
Bill

I don't use the "scary sharp" (sandpaper) method (I use a Makita water grinder
with 1000 grit stone for shaping, and a Norton 1000/4000 water stone for
honing), but I definitely get my tools FRIGHTENLY sharp and a leather stop is a
must-have in the process. Yes, the back side of an old leather belt would work
great, and you are correct in thinking a polishing compound should be used in
conjunction with the stop; I suggest this:

http://www.woodcarvers.com/yellowstone.htm

In fact, once you get your tools initially sharp, periodically re-polishing
them on the strop is generally all that's needed unless you damage the cutting
edge.

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