Having tested 0,5 grit diamond paste on a hanging leather strop I am happy with the edge, but now I wonder if it would be possible to get an equally good result stropping on 0,5 grit lapping film placed on a flat but softish base? What I am looking for is a sharp and keen edge without sticky paste residue to clean. Maybe the simple solution is less diamond paste on strop? Or let the strop dry for a week?
1) Have a perfectly flat surface to mount it
2) Lap the balsa before applying the diamond paste
3) Apply the paste sparingly. - Think of a DMT or Atoms plate
I have an old strop with all kinds of paste worked into it. It works beautifully. I don't necessarily recommend this but that strop has had neatsfoot oils, FerOx, diamond worked in. I have used neatsfoot, Camellia, strop balm. I have also used 2000 grit wet and dry to nap plain leather and suede brushes to restore suede strops.
Had a go at the leather strop with some Natusan Baby Oil and a towel, seems to have done the trick getting rid of the excesses both on cromium oxide side and diamond paste side. Will let it sit and dry before actually testing on a straight, but looking good ie pastes worked into strop not buttered on top of it.