is my strop idea worth my time and money?!

[peeintheshower]

For starters, i have two syringes of diamond pastes. One syringe is pink, and labeled 1.5microns. The other syringe is gold and labeled 1 microns.
i thought of buying a small block of balsa wood, maybe 8 x 3, and about an inch thick. on one side of the block i planned on rubbing in some pink diamond paste and vice versa.

so does home depot sell blocks of balsa like this?

and would it be better then the strop i have already made(consisting of two lower quality pieces of split, tanned leather, the leather is so hard that it sounds like i am dragging the blade across wood)?

i am not familiar with balsa strops so i would like an opinion, thanks!

 

[OHALLUM]

I don't think you will find balsa at a HD. You need to go to a hobby shop or such. I would get a thinner piece and mount it on a hardwood backing. I made three of these recently by using some balsa strip about 3/16 thick mounted on some finished ash about 5/16 thick that I got from HD. Shaped them like a small paddle about 3X9 inch in size. Worked out great. Used some contact cement to apply the balsa to the Ash.

Omar

 

[kimberfan]

use the soft side of the leather and if its still too hard take some 600-800 grit sand paper to it untill it softens up, glue them to a piece of wood and let dry, then apply diamond paste and enjoy

 

[Magnaminous_G]

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I've never used balsa myself, but I've seen lots of vids of people getting great results.

 

[stitchawl]

on one side of the block i planned on rubbing in some pink diamond paste and vice versa.

Just remember never to put your block down. Otherwise you will contaminate at least ONE of the sides, assuming that you always put the same side down. It might be better to use two separate pieces... That way you can set it down on your table and not contaminate or worse still, cross-contaminate your compounds.

With a double-sided block, or worse yet, a four-sided strop block, if you set it down on your work surface you WILL contaminate at least one side. These MUST be hung up when not in use, and NEVER used sitting on a work surface unless you put a new clean piece of paper or cloth under it each time.


Stitchawl

 

[Loosearrow]

Never thought of that, thanks.