Make-shift paddle strop?

I'm looking for some tips on rigging a paddle strop until I can afford to get a nice one from Tony. (Next month...) I have some 1 and .5 micron paste on the way that I want to start using.

I've read about using balsa wood or cardboard. Should I attach this to some kind of backing?

I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, since I'll probably toss whatever it is when I get my two-sided paddle from Tony.

Thanks,
Josh

Cardstock is very cheap (it's the stuff that you find in the back of notepads). Just smear some abrasive paste on the cardstock, and lay it on top of your norton, and go to town.

You can also use plain newsprint. There's something in the newspaper ink that is a very fine abrasive.