I've been looking on forums and some say a good strop for a straight razor isn't easy to make and requires much experience while many others claim it to be wrong. Is there anyone with hands on experience using/making home made strops that can help me? It looks to me that leather with a smooth and firm surface would suffice. I also would like to know about the first strops too, those made from canvas etc with a cutting compound added, I wonder if there's a fine weave on something cheaper that would work? It seems a little excessive to start at about $70