Favorite abrasives and surfaces for paddle strops?

[Tony Miller]

I have not done paddle strops for a few years now and wanted to see what types of abrasives and surfaces are in favor now days.

I was always a fan of diamond sprays myself after moving away from the soft pastes which seemed to never dry completely. I have always liked to use the sprays on smooth, skin side firm leather for my straight razors feeling that the rougher flesh side would be more likely to round an edge.

I know many of the knife guys like the CBN emulsions but didn't know if they were in favor with the straight razor crowd. For knives I stick with the hard, bar type abrasives applied to the rougher flesh side as it is easiest to apply to that surface and it just seems to hold on to the abrasive much better.

In my experience the harder or firmer the surface the more exact the edge with the least chance for any rounding. On knives I have favored a softer leather so as to impart a convexing of the edge for my outdoors woods knives.

So, what does everyone prefer now days and if using them on leather do you prefer the skin side or the rougher flesh side? What are your thoughts on balsa or even basswood ( harder than balsa) which was used on some vintage paddles?