I’d say way, way less than a whole syringe to recharge – I would guess you can recharge 20-30 times out of a single syringe.
I put a small single ribbon of about 1/2-3/4 inch on and spread it with my finger. Even then I hate them at first because so much paste comes off I feel I am wasting it. The paste also tends to “gum up” on the edge until the fresh paste gets broken in (frustrating as I’m wiping it off with alcohol).
The instructions that came with mine (admittedly a long time ago) say something to the effect of “When no more paste comes off on the edge it is time to re-load”. If that’s still in there, it should maybe be adjusted as it gave me the impression you needed to recharge more frequently.
I think I’ve learned through usage the strop only get good when they blacken up and get a bit “crusty”, and also that it’s very important to wipe the blade with some alcohol when switching grits, and to store them clean (I put them in a baggy with the same grits facing) to prevent contamination, but if you do that, you can use them for a looooong time.
Anyone please correct me if I’m wrong on any of this, as I’m building assumptions based on trial and hoping to help others save time doing the same.
