Obviously there are a lot of strop tutorials out there, and I've watched & red most of them, but I have a couple direct questions I couldn't find if you don't mind!

1) I've used the yellow paste in an X pattern on the leather side of the strop and attempted to work it into the strop... should I have also wet the paste to work it in better? It didn't smear much, so I'm not sure if I should add more paste until the whole leather is covered instead of just some smeary X patterns on the strop, etc.

2) Like most folks warned me, I've nicked my strop pretty damn good my first month out. How bad is too bad to use, if there's even a real gauge for that? Near the edges at the end have some quality chunks out of it, but the middle seems fine.

Regardless, I will probably buy a thicker strop - the angle glide of the strop isn't working for me always, I'd like something that covers the blade completely.

Stropping in general has been my weak point in the experience, I have debated if I should get the wood strop so it's more consistent, but I keep hearing stories about how that'll screw up the blade if I do it wrong. Any advice is appreciated!