If you want a balsa strop, just buy a piece of balsa for a few dollars from a craft or hobby store, but you can paste almost anything from paper to cloth with Chrome Oxide with good results, a piece of cardboard or fabric belt works just fine. The hardness of the substrate will affect the results/ cutting ability. Balsa has mixed results.

Pure Chrome Oxide is about 30k equivalent.

Hardware store or Woodworking polish “Green” stick are not Chrome Oxide some have very little Chrome Oxide, if any, which is why they don’t even call it Chrome Oxide. If it does not say Chrome Oxide, it’s not. Polishing sticks are aggressive grit or grits that will polish quickly but leave a harsh edge on a razor, which is opposite of true Chrome Oxide.

Trusted sources are most quality razor seller, who carry rebranded Hand America liquid, sprays and crayons or Kremer Pigments powder. A onetime purchase of quality chrome oxide is inexpensive and a life time purchase.

Powder can be mixed with a few drops of mineral oil, a little goes a long way.