Thread: Homemade Strop Question

I am planning to make a paddle strop that I plan to use for pastes. I have access to leather (Tandy) and balsa in the area. I assume that the price difference wouldn't be too dramatic between the materials, but my question is which one is recommended. I've heard good things about balsa with paste, but most of the ones for sale at SRD and Tony Miller have leather. I plan to make at least 2-sided with 1 micron diamond and 0.5 CrOx. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

I've made balsa strops with diamond paste. Aircraft balsa 1/8x3x36 cost me a couple of bucks at a hobby store and didn't need flattening. I used contact cement to attach it to plexiglas that I bought at a local plastics shop and they cut it to size using drops that only cost me a buck each. Some guys glue the balsa to a hardwood.

I haven't made a paddle strop with a leather component but if I did I would use a hardwood and glue the leather, felt or whatever with contact cement.