How is this for a paddle strop?

Hi Guys,

I am think of making my own padle strop but dont have the time to do it out of scratch or the skills. After purchasing the whole SR set (and I mean the works) my budget is low.

I found this on ebay new:

Leather strop extra wide for batter stroapping G68 on eBay, also, Barber Shop Shaving, Vanity Perfume Grooming, Collectables (end time 08-Apr-09 03:34:23 BST)

I like the fact that it is 3" wide. I am thinking of asking Chris L for some CO (.5 grid?) and eventauly the other side with diamond paste (.25 grid). Is this a good padle for this purpose? As you can see the price is ok.

Where could I get the diamond paste?

Thanks in advance

Paddle strops are a great way to learn stropping and perform blade maintenance This one looks fine short of arriving and being made of rotted leather or some other malady that does not show in the pictures. Definitely paste one side with .5 micron Chromium Oxide. It will put a wicked edge on a blade with little skill and keep you from needing an actual honing for quite a while. Don’t even bother with the diamond paste. You will like the results you get with CrOx better. Leave one side of this paddle “clean” or plain leather and use it for your every day pre-shave stropping. Move up to a hanging strop when you get good on the paddle, by then you may have reasons of your own to paste that other side.