> Would using a leather strop after the 2000 grit paper make the edge
> appreciably sharper, or would the difference really not be enough to
> justify the cost of a strop (it would be a birthday gift, actually).
> If the strop WOULD be a good idea, do I need to use the green
> charging compound commonly available, or do I just use the leather
> as-is?

welcome to the Porch, Chris ...

You've had a variety of good answers to your questions.  I'm a little
behind the rest, but I say use a strop.  I use two types ... one of
several leather strops charged with Herb's Yellowstone compound, or a
length of flat hard rock maple charged with green crayon.  The wood &
crayon is for those instances when I really want a sharp edge and
minimal dubbing.  Of the leather strops, only one was bought (a Butz
carver's strop); made the rest myself as it is very easy to do.  If you
make your own leather strop, opinions are mixed as to whether you put
the smooth side out or use it for gluing, but I glue the smooth side and
use the rough side out like nearly all strops I've ever used or seen.
Hadn't heard of Ken's suggestion of veggie tanned vs. oil tanned
leather, so that's an interesting twist I'll consider with future
strops.  Whatever style you use, swipe the edge across your strop with
very light pressure.  The more pressure, the more you dub the edges.

Charlie Driggs
Newark, DE