Polishing a knife to a mirror finish — why is it necessary?

Proper use of a leather strop not only keeps the cutting edge as sharp as possible, but also gives it a mirror finish.

Is it necessary to use polishing compounds on a leather strop?

Yes, we recommend using Hapstone suspensions and pastes, or compounds such as Dialux, Luxor, and PDT CBN pastes.

If you have a double-sided strop, apply the compound to the suede side and leave the smooth side clean for the final polish.

Products on our website:

• Leather and Suede Strops 6" x 1"

How to choose between smooth and suede leather?

If you work with pastes or suspensions, suede absorbs the composition better.

If you want to polish without additives, choose smooth leather.

For cutters and engraving tools, use suede with paste.

For knives, use smooth leather with a light finish.

What is the grit of a leather blank?

Leather itself does not have graininess, but in terms of polishing effect, it is comparable to an abrasive thinner than 0.5 microns, i.e., more than 30,000 JIS.

How much pressure should be applied when polishing?

Minimal. Let the blade barely touch the leather, as if it were moving under its own weight.

Can you cut the leather on the blank?

If you work correctly, no. Always guide the leather in the direction of the cutting edge.

If you try to “cut into” the leather, a cut is inevitable.

Does the blade become convex/warped from polishing on leather?

Leather is softer than stone, but the Hapstone leather blank and high-quality pastes (Dialux, Luxor, PDT CBN) are so thin that the lens effect is minimal. This is not a problem for knives, but when working with chisels, avoid excessive passes on the flat side.

Can a blunt blade be sharpened on a leather blank?

Theoretically, yes, but the leather strop is designed for finishing polishing, not rough sharpening.

To restore the geometry, use whetstones, then switch to a leather strop with Hapstone suspension or Dialux pastes for perfect sharpness.

Does a leather strop remove burrs?

Yes, and it does so delicately. Hapstone leather strops are the best tool for removing burrs, leaving a perfectly clean cutting edge.

Why does the knife seem less aggressive after polishing?

There are several reasons:

1. After polishing, the microstructure of the teeth disappears—the edge becomes smoother.

2. If you polish after using a very coarse stone, it will take longer.

3. You may be setting the angle too high when polishing—lower the angle slightly below that used for sharpening.

Useful tips from Hapstone

• Apply a thin and even layer of suspension; too much abrasive

If you are using a suspension, shake it before use

• Do not mix different pastes/suspensions on the same whetstone.

• Store the blank with the leather in a dry, clean place.