Thread: More CrOx questions

I know that I can get known good quality CrOx pastes/sprays from vendors on this board. I also know that I hate waiting for a day or two while the product is shipped. I was at HobbyLobby and Lowes last night and saw a few potential CrOx options. I'm curious if anyone has defacto information about the ingredients and or grit of these products.

1) HobbyLobby had "Winton Oil Paint", the ingredients of which were listed as "Color: Chromium Oxide Medium: Linseen Oil". Would this work?

2) Lowes had a "TaskForce" polishing compound #5 which looked like a big CrOx crayon.

3) Lowes also had a "Porter Cable Polishing Compound #5" (PCPC5) which also looked like a big CrOx crayon.

The problem with those unknown CrOx sources you mention is just that: They're unknown.

The CrOx that guys like SRD sell is definately the good stuff, it will definately be 0.5m fineness and you know it wont have any abrasives in it of different sizes, all of which can be problems affecting CrOx from other sources.

You're free to test them of course, but the question is really do you want to risk your razor blade just to save 48 hours waiting on the post?

#1 is a paint, so I doubt that the makers went to the trouble of ensuring that all the CrOx there was exactly 0.5m or to ensure that the CrOx is pure so I'd avoid that one.

#'s 2 and 3 are just unknowns really. They are polishing compounds so they might be Ok, but then again they might also scratch your bevel to pieces. Without guidance from the maker on the quality and exact micron size I'd give them a miss as well.

JMHO of course, and if anyone here has tried them and knows otherwise then please let us know!

I think purity is a difference too. A lot of the cheaper ones have other abrasives mixed in, if I remember correctly.

Originally Posted by Stubear

The problem with those unknown CrOx sources you mention is just that: They're unknown.

The CrOx that guys like SRD sell is definately the good stuff, it will definately be 0.5m fineness and you know it wont have any abrasives in it of different sizes, all of which can be problems affecting CrOx from other sources.

You're free to test them of course, but the question is really do you want to risk your razor blade just to save 48 hours waiting on the post?

#1 is a paint, so I doubt that the makers went to the trouble of ensuring that all the CrOx there was exactly 0.5m or to ensure that the CrOx is pure so I'd avoid that one.

#'s 2 and 3 are just unknowns really. They are polishing compounds so they might be Ok, but then again they might also scratch your bevel to pieces. Without guidance from the maker on the quality and exact micron size I'd give them a miss as well.

JMHO of course, and if anyone here has tried them and knows otherwise then please let us know!

The stuff they sell in Lowes or Homedepot is not suitable for straights. Most CrO on the market is designed for other uses. Buy from a known entity.

The stuff at Lowe's would works fine for polishing the blade but I wouldn't recommend it for the edge. Of course, if you did want to experiment I would suggest using something besides your best or favorite blade. On the other hand, I did read something a while back about someone saying they could remember their grandfather kept a green painted board hanging next to where he shaved and would stop his razor on it before shaving......Hmmmmm! It doesn't hurt to experiment, that's one of the most exciting things about str8 razor shaving.....experimenting!

Expermient only on expendable items.
That means use a cheap leather and a cheap razor,
in other words don´t use your daily shaving equippment for experiments.

Otherwise there´s nothing wrong with trying XY pastes.

But if you ask me, you will get an easy answer. Wait two days and buy the real stuff.
Like already mentioned you really don´t know what you get.
It is very possible that your polishing compounds are not 0.5 or even close.

You might get good results, but it´s a gamble.
Buy the real stuff and try your other options another time.
Then you can compare and tell if it´s as good or not

FWIW --

The "Veritas Honing Compound" sold by Lee Valley Tools is probably typical, and very modestly priced:

Veritas® Honing Compound - Lee Valley Tools

I've been using it on a cloth strop, and it works -- nice polished edges.

But reading the description, I see "mix of CrOx and AlOx", and "typical scratch size of 0.5 microns" -- not "pure CrOx, 0.5 micron particles".

I'm getting a package of pure CrOx, 0.5 micron, shortly. I think my days of using the cheap stuff are over.

Charles