Substrate for Gouge Strop

[Bill Haumann]

I just reground and sharpened a set of hand gouges. I plan to use each gouge to carve a channel to strop them with. What material works well for this? Mdf, pine, hardwood? Should the channel be lined with leather, or does that not add anything significant?

[David Weaver]

Pine or balsa.

No need to line it with leather if the channels are carved accurately.

[Tom Vanzant]

1+ what David said. The leather changes the radius.