Your comment about wanting a hard surface for edge leading strokes has my interest. That does deserve some experimentation. I would appreciate some feedback from you with the results of edge leading, when you have it.

In fact, some time back I ordered some microfine chromium oxide "sandpaper" from 3M. I affixed it to plexiglass using glue. But, I didn't do much experimentation at the time; that's about when I started using balsa wood. You have me thinking about going back for a few experiments of my own with the sandpaper.

I bought some pine the other day for some experiments with paste on a harder surface than balsa wood.