Thread: Stropping on athletics tape/ paddlestrop with paste

I bought a dovo strop without Linnen/Coton and I regretted it but thanks to some tips around here I just put some athletics tape on the back of the strop and I've been using that for some time without problems..(ok the first time I had some glue on the spine of the razor that shouldnt be there)

Now here's my question.
I've bought some diamond paste and I would like to make a paddle strop for it. I havent got balsa wood readily available or leather . Of course I could get some but if I can use whatever I have in my house that would be even better.

Could I just put some athletics tape on a piece of wood(MDF or something like that) put the diamond paste on there and strop the razor on it for touchups?

Maarten

From what I understand about diamond paste, which is very little, you need a denser, harder substrate. Maple or Oak. This I believe and I will be corrected, I know, is to prevent the water in the paste from warping the wood and putting a wavy edge on the blade.

That is my best guess. I wouldn't use it on balsa, I'd try for maple.

The paste is oil based from what I've figured on the syringe..

Maarten

I think I read somewhere around here that a guy was getting fine results stropping on athletic tape stuck to class or time--some very hard, smooth substrate. Dunno...might give it a try!

I used cardboard as the back for my ath-tape strop, I'm thinking though that the oil base would dissolve the tape glue, leaving you with an expensive mess. I've seen pics on other forums, and the Lee Valley website of diamond on MDF so it seems to work, the diamonds embed themselves into the top layer I guess. you could also try just the MDF that stuff is pretty abrasive. MDF by manufacture is very consistent, so it should lap and stay fairly flat. YMMV