Editing Razor strop (section)

{{Redirects|Strop|the Australian comic character |John Cornell}}
{{short description|Device for straightening and polishing blades}}
[[File:Razor and strop.JPG|thumb|A [[straight razor]] with a hanging strop]]

A '''razor strop''' or simply a '''strop''' (sometimes called a '''razor strap''' or '''strap''') is a flexible strip of [[leather]], [[canvas]], denim fabric, balsa wood, or other soft material, used to straighten and [[polishing|polish]] the blade of a [[straight razor]], a [[knife]], or a woodworking tool such as a [[chisel]]. In many cases stropping re-aligns parts of the blade edge that have been bent out of alignment. In other cases, especially when an abrasive polishing compound is used, stropping may remove a small amount of metal (functionally equivalent to [[lapping]]). Stropping can also [[Burnishing (metal)|burnish]] (i.e., push metal around on) the blade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/what-does-stropping-do/|title=What Does Stropping Do|last=|first=|date=2014-08-13|website=|publisher=|access-date=|archive-date=2016-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013105248/https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/what-does-stropping-do/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The strop may be a hanging strop or a hand-held paddle. Various abrasive compounds may be applied to the strop to aid in polishing the blade while stropping to obtain a mirror-like finish. Common abrasive compounds include half-micron [[diamond]]s, green [[chromium(III) oxide]], white rouge ([[aluminum oxide]]), and jeweller's rouge ([[iron(III) oxide]]).