In the 70s, when I first did a little relief carving, I got an old wide belt from the hippy era and loaded the raw leather backside with jewelry rouge — kind of purple. Had it for years and it would sure put a glow on any sharpened surface and help insure the final removal of un-uniform traces of wire edge.
Listened to that link above and then switched to some Bekka Bramlett duos that were listed. Wow that gal can sing. Down loaded one with Joe Cocker that is incredible.
Get a decent strop, I recommend the Rick Butz Strop which has the same kind of leather glued to a wood paddle that has curves for finishing out the inside of wood gouges
Butter that in with the Herb's Yellowstone, 2,3 swipes and you have a mirror razor finish to the blade
I do most of my stuff in the round but here is a good project that is on my list
