Thread: Chromium Oxide.

I am trying to find Chromium Oxide to make a balsa strop. Can anybody tell me what its typical use is and/or where to buy it?

Thank you.

CrOx can be sourced from many places, most of which supply customers intending it for other uses (not razors). Unless you want to make a project out of sorting through what works and what doesn't I would suggest just ordering some from SRD. I don't use balsa, but I think either spray or powder would be your best bet, with spray being a lot easier to use.

if you use balsa you need to also sand it to prep the surface for razor stropping.
You can go trough a progression ending with 1500 grit.

SRD sounds like a good idea. I am in a smaller city and am having a hard time finding anybody with good info. If not balsa what else would work good? I know everybody has their own ideas and I am open to trying almost anything.

Originally Posted by wings

SRD sounds like a good idea. I am in a smaller city and am having a hard time finding anybody with good info. If not balsa what else would work good? I know everybody has their own ideas and I am open to trying almost anything.

Leather, or felt , as matter of fact will work better for newbie because balsa is harder and less forgiving for uneven pressure while stropping.
You can also apply CrO on the linen component of a hanging strop.

As far as I know CrO is used in the lapidary trade. if you go into a lapidary supply shop you will see it in powder form and in large blocks. Much of that is not pure and contains other material or has particle sizes we don't want. It can also be used as pigment.

I use a Butz Strop from Woodcraft (about $35) for CrO. It's covered with a fine suede that holds the CrO well and delivers a smooth edge. I used powdered CrO, but spray should work well. I've tried the stick, but the jury's still out on that.

To keep it simple order it from SRD. It won't have the impurities possible from industrial sources.

SRD is a good choice. In addition to their Chromium Oxide Paste (looks like a big crayon, easy to use) They have the Crox spray as well. That's great for linen or felt material. I use Crox on a leather paddle strop. I have the hard wool felt also, and I use that for Diamond spray .50

ChrisL, a member here, used to sell grade A powdered chrome ox, which IIRC came from Hand American originally. You can try sending him a PM.

Just an alternative.