Sharpening a knife with fungi

**Kepis** · 02-01-2009 19:20

I wanted to try making a sharpening strop from Birch Polypore today, so my lad & I harvested this beast as the raw material for the project.

and set to work carving the wooden base plate and cutting the fungus to shape

then glued the two parts together, ok i cheated and took contact adhesive.

trimming the top of the fungus

and the finished result, brings the edge back wonderfully and has the added bonus of removing all the gunk that accumilates on the blade, tannins, sap etc.

Needless to say, my lad has taken full ownership of the strop already

, doubt if i will ever get to use it

**hiho** · 02-01-2009 19:47

just been and got a couple of these today. saves me hunting through to find what i was looking for. Thanks

**Limaed** · 02-01-2009 20:00

Nice work Kepis,
Has the Polypore shrunk back at all? I fancy making one when I get home. It looks like a giant bar Double decker, probably dosn't taste like one mind

Ta Ed

**puub** · 02-01-2009 20:07

Been meaning to try making a strop ,definitely going to have a go now.

Thanks Kepis

.

Pete.

**Mooseman1** · 02-01-2009 20:18

Christ mate is that shroom big enough

let me know how it looks after a few weeks of use. Did you harvest this from your normal haunt?

**Kepis** · 02-01-2009 20:33

Originally Posted by Limaed

Nice work Kepis,
Has the Polypore shrunk back at all? I fancy making one when I get home. It looks like a giant bar Double decker, probably dosn't taste like one mind

Ta Ed

Not as yet, we harvested the materials and made the strop today as a project, i have more of the fungus here drying out so i can make another one at some point.

**Kepis** · 02-01-2009 20:34

Originally Posted by Mooseman1

Christ mate is that shroom big enough

let me know how it looks after a few weeks of use. Did you harvest this from your normal haunt?

there were a few bigger ones up there

, weve left a few to see how big they get, and yep, normal haunt, in fact the exact same spot as last weeks trek out

**Mooseman1** · 02-01-2009 20:40

kep can you eat these monsters?

**Kepis** · 02-01-2009 20:47

Nope, well i wouldnt want to try, think the tyres on my motor would taste better and are not as rubbery, seriosuly, although it's not poisonous, it's not recommended.

**Mooseman1** · 02-01-2009 20:49

Roger that mate. Ill stick to tesco's.

**HillBill** · 02-01-2009 21:05

They ain't nice to chew.

**firestarter31** · 02-01-2009 23:33

Very intresting , i have known about using it as a strop for a couple of years , but have never seen this method. Will try it out this weekend. Have you ever tried it out as a plaster?

**Kepis** · 03-01-2009 10:12

Originally Posted by firestarter31

Very intresting , i have known about using it as a strop for a couple of years , but have never seen this method. Will try it out this weekend. Have you ever tried it out as a plaster?

Funny you should mention the plaster, used it for exactly that yesterday when i got a small burn on my thumb, serves me right for playing with the fire i suppose

**xylaria** · 03-01-2009 10:13

That looks so simple, Wonderful!!! The whole one I have in my collection shunk to by about a third to half when dried.

chew a lump for sore throats, or add to boiling water and enhale vapour for colds and coughs, contains anti-septic and can taste like TCP.

**Dave Budd** · 03-01-2009 10:59

I harvested a box full last year but discovered them all turned to a fine powder the other day. Some kind of beetle infestation, they don't seem to like wood or cardboard but the polypore is top grub

Never mind, I've a wood full of birch trees

oh, btw, when your strop is dry I suggest rubbing it ona sheet of sandpaper to smooth out the surface. It makes a difference to your stropping

**mick miller** · 03-01-2009 11:53

I'm making one! Seriously though, the woods up the hill from me are mainly Hornbeam (which I've carved a few spoons from; a remarkably hard wood) and Birch, many of which sport some mahoosive polypores.

Thanks for the post Kepis, nicely done.

**Kepis** · 03-01-2009 12:49

Thanks Mick

**Peter_t** · 03-01-2009 20:57

iv made many befor but more as a desposable item when im out. its hard to slice it so you have a smooth even surface, i think the trick is to do it in one steady stroke of the knife but you usualy end up running out of blade. we found one at college which was bigger than a dinner plate!

now that would make an awsome strop

pete

**Allybally** · 12-01-2009 10:01

I've been using them to dry my flies when fishing, such a marvalous fungi..
Going to make a strop now!

**Hedgehog** · 12-01-2009 12:27

Nicely done sir, I keep meaning to make one myself.

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