Paddle Strop (prep?)

I acquired a paddle strop some time ago from a friend who's a custom knife maker that casually gave it to me because according to him he had no use for it. Anyway, I use a regular hanging strop and also had no use for it - until now. It is an especially smooth leather type on both sides. I am thinking of applying chro-ox on one side and diamond .25 micron (spray) on the other. My question is this: should I just apply the paste and spray on the smooth leather? Or should I prepare it by "ruffing" it up for either the chro-ox or the diamond spray? Or one and not the other? What do you guys think? I mean I just figured I should make some use of this thing after it sits on my desk doing a heck of a lot of nothing. Thanks.

personally, I'd apply the paste to the smooth leather.

Maxi - Thanks, that was my thought too. However, I do believe that it would be [ideal] to put the diamond spray on a surface that would be heavy wool or felt, but since I have this smooth leather at my disposal and I hate to waste it, I'm just trying to get an idea to optimize the result. Thanks again for the input.

If you don't like it on the smooth leather then you can rough it up and re apply.

Michael

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mjsorkin

If you don't like it on the smooth leather then you can rough it up and re apply.

Michael

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I agree with this a whole bunch. A very practical way to proceed.
What we do not know is just how "hard & tight" the surface of that leather is. They can vary a lot. Just because a diamond spray works very well on felt does not mean that you need to rough up the surface of leather. They are very different materials.

Agreed...this leather surface is unlike my strop finish - which is very hard and slick. The finish on the [unused] paddle strop is smooth and soft. Kind of like I can push it in with my fingers. It appears to be a fine quality finish on the leather, yet, like I mentioned, I wouldn't be too interested in using it as a strop if I had another choice. Just...a very different type finish.

Friendly warning. If it's a vintage paddle the leather my not only be very smooth it may also be very thin. Before I applied anything to it i'd try it very carefully to get the hang of it before I used it in ernest . Yes it's from experience. Had a beautiful vintage one soft as a BBS. Yep cut both sides the 1st day. Smooth may also mean thin.

It's funny, in the meantime I took a closer look at it and it appears that the two sides are of a "different" kind of leather. I mean so very noticeably. Though I'll be damned if I can tell the difference - they feel smilar, if not the same, to me. All I was was looking for was to find a "use" for a hanging desk ornament and instead, I don't know what I have here. I think I will call my friend and see if he can tell me more about it other than "I got it from a guy I know."