Homemade Noter

I received some 3/4 Purple Heart dowel I want to experiment with for making a noter. I’ve been using some orange Osage. Both woods are not at all smooth. The Orange Osage is at times very difficult to slide and at time very easy. I’ve read about waxing noters, but I’m wondering how you work the surface of a wood dowel when making a noter. Sandpaper, steel wool? How do you prepare the business end of the wood? Thanks