Rough leather with compound okay?

[IMightBeWrong]

If I have a rough leather strop for knives with some green and red compounds (.5 and .25 micron) is it alright to use on my straight razor? I also have my hanging strop. If it's not a good idea, I can put some compound on part of the smooth leather strop but I was hoping to dedicate it as a plain leather strop. I would assume that it would be alright on a rough leather knife strop as long as I'm using no pressure since it is steel and all, but we all know what can happen when one assumes so I figured it's best to ask you all.

 

[Brianskeet]

I have a rough leather strop that I put knives on all the time, but I don't use it on my razors. Might be OK, but I can't bring myself to do it.

 

[IMightBeWrong]

Noted. I wish there were a leather shop near me, but no such luck. Maybe I should just get a balsawood strop. Any difference in the performance between Balsa and Leather with .5 compound?

 

[Brianskeet]

I am the wrong guy for that question. Never tried balsa

 

[Alum of Potash]

It depends on what you call "rough leather." Balsa or maple should be fine, as would be smooth generic vegetable-tanned leather on a paddle for knives. Suede or split side would be better for coarser sharpening pastes, if I'm not mistaken. Generic vegetable-tanned leather being smooth, still might be an improvement to sand it 220x-400x-600x w/d to give it a little tooth before pasting (vacuuming off the sandpaper abrasive after each grit before applying the paste). Such tooth would still be finer than the knife "suede" side, or more like Russian leather.

 

[Gamma]

I've used leather with a rough nap for diamond paste. Worked extremely well.