Strop Block Kit. 2 Leather Honing Strops 3 Inch by 8 Inch + MDF block + 3 One Oz. Black, Green & White Sharpening Polishing Compounds + Double-Sided Adhesive Tapes. All-in-one by Upon Leather

I almost didn't buy this kit, because Juan at Upon couldn't tell me what the compounds were, or grit rating. I am glad I bought it anyway. It is cheap, let's get that clear. I have seen better quality leather, BUT, it is genuine leather. There was a piece in my kit that had some low spots and uneven finish, this would normally be enough for me to send back, as low spots don't hold compound, miss the edge of the knife, etc. But, they had put a 3rd piece of leather in the kit to make up for it! The sueded (flesh) sides are not great for stropping, as you can see with the green compound in my photos, the nap isn't shaved, it is uneven, and generally seems to be the neglected side fo the leather, and the smooth side has some finish problems when the compound is added to it. The peeling and discoloration you see in my last photo is after stropping 2 knives. That's it. It isn't swarf or build up, the leather finish peels in places, and turned grey before I ever stropped on it. It is ugly, but it still works OK, as the photos of the santoku edge show, it gives a mirror polish.The kit is easy to use very straight forward. I suggest really taking time to align and set the double-sided tape correctly. It is worth the time. The leather is good enough to use the smooth side on its own, but the compounds are where this kit really shines. I was so happy, and had the other piece of leather, that I bought the suede 1-sided kit that is already mounted, and i put the extra piece there with the side that wasn't cut too deep, and now I have 2 double-sided strops!The Compounds: umm, wow. I cannot say for sure if these are, but the perform EXACTLY like Bark River compounds. The black goes on the strop nicely, and refines the edge. I go from my King 6000 to the Black compound and it almost puts a mirror finish on, and the edge is wicked sharp. I hand0bevel convex edges on all my knives, so the strop is super handy (note: I recently switched to using Trizact sandpaper as a strop, both 3000 and 5000 grit. I still use the 5000 Trizact after my King 6000 now, and after the Trizact, I use the Black compound). The black compound went on easy, smooth, and evenly. A very good compound.The Green is a good compound, goes on a little harder than the black, but it goes on smoothly, and works like a champ. I believe the Green is rated at around 8-9000 and it seems that way also. hazy mirror finish, and great cutting. Fresh off the Green, my edges will cut freely hanging newsprint with less disturbance than a light exhale gives the sheet, and almost no feeling of resistance.The White: goes on easier than the Green, but it is difficult to see on the leather! This makes it hard to determine how much compound you are putting on. The leather also took on some blackish-grey spots and streaks after using the white compound, but I believe this has more to do with the leather finish having some leftover residue or something, as it has not continued to happen with more compound applications. The White gives a mirror finish. The only thing I have used that is finer than this is 0.5 micron or lower diamond paste. It is rated at 12-16,000 grit, and it polishes like it. full mirror finish, every edge I have stropped on this comes out with a finish sharp enough to read small print in the reflection, as you can see on the photos.Overall: good leather, not top-of-the-line, but good for stropping, especially if you don't want a lot of give. Easy to assemble, the MDF block is good, just don't get it wet or it will have expansion problems. the compounds are excellent and really make the kit shine. For the price you can fins some double sided strops out there, or get a kit of Bark River compounds, but if you just have a couple of whetstones and sharpen a few knives at home, and want better edges than you are getting from your sharpening stones, get this kit, it is worth the money. If you had something like the King KDS 1000/6000 and this kit using just the green and white, you would have everything you need to sharpen 90% of kitchen knives out there to a mirror polish. If you use bushcraft and don't want mirror finish, a sharpening stone and coarse finishing stone (like a 3000) then the black compound and plain leather would be perfect, It really is a great kit, and a great value. Don't let the lack of specific info dissuade you. it is a nice kit even though it is a value kitUPDATE: I was having issues with uneven compound application. I found a solution. A couple drops of Mineral Oil, food grade, right on the compound, and then rubbing it into the leather makes for incredible coating. The Black compound really takes to it well, forming a nice even thick coating, on some of the good suede. Te green makes a pretty good coating, I attribute the unevenness to the inferior suede side of this particular piece of leather. The White compound looks light grayish once applied, but it is smooth like silk when in use now. Ladup is small, and the compounds really shine. Very good value for the money!

The leather is good quality. Compound is okay. Mine was a little dry, but went on okay.It comes with everything you need. Let's you choose which side of the leather and how much of what compound you want to apply. There are good one sided pre assembled strops if you are only doing green compound.Cost. You are lazy like me so buy it. If you are not lazy, you need a piece of wood a strip of leather, some glue, and polishing compound. Psst those are all cheap. That is an easy and cheap shopping list and you can probably get a bit better compound if you choose for a lower price, and be proud of your skills. They do have lower prices kitsch with only leather.However if you want to open the box, assemble, load, and be stropping in minutes while you watch TV, with everything fitting together perfectly, this is a great product.

Package came with all items. The green and black compund came undamaged and spread nicely, however the white compound, the one I needed most, was broken into pieces and so dry it would not spread. I now had to order some fine compound separately.The leather was just under 2 mm, so not the thickness described, but functional. I'll see how long it lasts under use.Two of the leather strops had ridges running along the width of the leather. Not normally seen when dry, it was apparent when applying the compounds that would spread. Not the high quality leather as advertised. I don't think I'll go this route again. I have found high quality 1/8" lether for much less money listed under other searches.

I have never used a strop, so I bought this kit. I am very impressed by the quality of everything in the box. Upon Leather definitely shows pride in its product.I have a set of very old Marples chisels that needed some serious attention. After taking them from the diamond stones I put them on the strop and they are better than they ever were.I'm glad I found this. It is a great kit.

High quality stropping leather and accessories that are perfect for my razor sharpening/honing needs. I also bought a second version of this kit without the polishing compounds. Including the second kit, I'll have a total of 4 pieces of leather. I plan to reserve each piece for use with a single grade of polishing compound.

Having bought and made my own strop blocks in the past I knew what to do but the instructions in the box are next toNon existent.......if I was promoting a product like this I would include a detailed visual instruction on every aspect of the sharpeningAnd polishing process.......

I'm having trouble loading the compound. It has a tendency to flake off. Still giving five stars as I am assured that my complaint is due to user error rather than manufacturing defect.

This is an an excellent strop, great quality leather. The suede is very fine and the smooth leather is obviously super fine. This is a great finishing strop, I have another strop that is coarse and fine, now with this I can shave with the edge my knives take.