With green compound, I'd sand the smooth side a little bit to raise some nap in it. After sanding, it'll be rough enough to take and hold the compound very well, but still smooth enough to produce better results than the rough side of the leather likely will. And that 'nap' in the leather will still smooth out again and become somewhat 'shiny' with use, so there's no worry about losing the advantages of a smooth strop anyway. Most of the run-of-the-mill veg-tanned leather I've seen is often too rough or irregular/coarse/bumpy on the rough side, and I've seldom liked how it feels under a blades edge when stropping on it. There are exceptions though; my favorite 'green' strop is the rough side of a leather belt I'd purchased from Cabela's a few years ago. I applied some dry powder green compound to it, and then affixed that dry compound into the leather by rubbing some mineral oil-based hand lotion over it, mainly just to keep the dust down in usage of it. Turns out that's a great way to extend the useful life of the compound on the strop; it really holds the compound well, and I've not needed to refresh it as often as I'd assumed I would. That particular strop has consistently been the best finisher for my blades in 1095, CV and simple stainless like 420HC. I use it like a barber's (hanging) strop, BTW.
David
