I have a tip for applying pastes onto strops that I have found to work exceptionally well.

Use a wallpaper seam roller! I dot the strop with a crisscross pattern, then roll until the roller comes up clean. If I need more, I dot it where it's lightest until I have covered my "target area". I have also found that more is needed on the edges, and if you go light on the ends (top and bottom), it helps removes any paste that may accumulate on the razor.

Also, I was having a problems viewing edges under the radio shack microscope because it seemed impossible to move down the edge without losing focus. I fixed this by superglueing a piece of plastic that I cut off of my mouthwash lid (I always cut off those silly tabs) to the clear plastic on the bottom at the right spot and rest the spine of my razor against it. That way it is always in line with the light and the field of vision.

Hope someone can use this tip!