Subsitute for balsa pasted strop?

[TexasShaver]

My balsa strop with the paste has rolled a bit on the edges making a bit of a "c" shape. I was wondering what I could use to put paste on besides balsa. Cardboard? Denim? What would yall recommend?

[regularjoe]

You could do denim, or leather. But I think you could also fix your c shaped strop. I don't know how. But I'm sure a little searching here in the forum would get you there.

[sharptonn]

Hey Tex! Sprinkle with Comet or Ajax. Scrub it with a soft-bristled scrub brush, rinse it good and let it dry.
Block sand it flat with some rough sandpaper and repaste it. Works good!

[gssixgun]

Go buy another piece of Balsa, it is pretty darn cheap

[sharptonn]

Go buy another piece of Balsa, it is pretty darn cheap

Indeed, it is cheap! Scraping it off your base and adhereing a new piece is a pain too!
I found that scrubbing and sanding is not only cheaper, but easier. YMMV

[gssixgun]

You got a point there Tom, I have never actually used a Balsa strop so I was thinking just replacing the surface I just found 3" x 1/16" by 36" for $1 and that was my first search

[pixelfixed]

get a pce at least an 1/8 thick,than use some good contact cement,the edges curling up will not be a problem again.I think you had a faulty bond.

[Ryan82]

My balsa strop is 1/4" thick, no problems with curling I can report

[Ecl]

For a mere 20x the price of a balsa strop, you could look into the Wood Is Good WD401 Large Hone Strop. It's a hard rubber slab (2.75 x 8.5 inches) glued to a wooden base which serves as a handle. I've got one coated with quarter-micron diamond spray, and I'm quite pleased with the performance. The surface is porous enough to hold the compound in place, and it's got just a little bit of elasticity. There's a smaller (cheaper) model, but I haven't tried one.

[sharptonn]

My balsa strop is 1/4" thick, no problems with curling I can report

Indeed, with a piece of balsa 1/4 thick, You might not even need a base!