Thread: Inexpensive Chromium Oxide on eBay

I found this "optical grade" chromium oxide on eBay. Although I'm not using a leather honing strop (yet ) I thought some others might find it useful after I ready everything I could on the honing section here and at B&B.

I think that for 1/2 a pound of the stuff, $8.50 plus $6.00 for shipping, is probably pretty reasonable. The seller reports that the grit is .05 micron.

Link

Chances are it would work. Unless you are buying a half pound to dump most of it (over a long period of time a little at a time) in a vibratory tumbler for razor restoration along with corn cob polishing medium in addition to using it to apply for edge polishing on strops.....the main problem is that 8 ounces of this stuff, for stropping would last 20 guys a lifetime. You'll use about a teaspoon every few years on a strop or two, I'm just saying be prepared to make room somewhere to put the other cup size of the stuff away for long term storage. Also, remember to have a jar that will seal absolutely air tight for years. Chromium Oxide powder is hygroscopic and therefore absorbs moisture easily.

Give it a try though and see how you like it. There's already at least one guy that sells small packet sizes of .5 micron for those that don't want a huge tub sitting around gathering dust... so the demand for all the extra powder won't be very high.

Chris L

but this stuff is .05 micron??

I don't see 1/2 micron anywhere

Originally Posted by Chrisl

Chances are it would work. Unless you are buying a half pound to dump most of it (over a long period of time a little at a time) in a vibratory tumbler for razor restoration along with corn cob polishing medium in addition to using it to apply for edge polishing on strops.....the main problem is that 8 ounces of this stuff, for stropping would last 20 guys a lifetime. You'll use about a teaspoon every few years on a strop or two, I'm just saying be prepared to make room somewhere to put the other cup size of the stuff away for long term storage. Also, remember to have a jar that will seal absolutely air tight for years. Chromium Oxide powder is hygroscopic and therefore absorbs moisture easily.

Give it a try though and see how you like it. There's already at least one guy that sells small packet sizes of .5 micron for those that don't want a huge tub sitting around gathering dust... so the demand for all the extra powder won't be very high.

Chris L

This guy you say sells small packets of this green gold,any idea who he is???

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

I don't see 1/2 micron anywhere

Neither do I - that's just the number Chris threw out. The seller reports that the grit is .05 micron though

Sorry for the confusion. I have no idea what the grit size is of the huge amount of some sort of chromium per the original post. I was mentioning that I personally have small packets of .5micron Chromium Oxide that I sell. It's the Hand American powder only more affordable due to the smaller size.

BTW, I'm having a very bad experience with an order I placed to Hand American over a month ago now that hasn't arrived even after an email back from Keith two weeks ago saying he was going to take care of getting my order right out. I'm getting very concerned. $92 order.

Chris L

Sorry I didn't get back to this thread sooner guys. Here is the email message I received when I asked what was the grit of this Chromium Oxide.

"The grade is optical, I belive it is 0.05 micron, I am not sure. This polish is very good on Jade and turquoise. Thanks for your visit Ed @ R.C.G.
- rockcraftgems"

eBay My World - rockcraftgems

I can vouch for nothing more than this. I just figured, for those looking to get this green gold and maybe distribute it among the those who are interested, this would be an opportunity.

I'm in he process of buying some off Chris because I to have been let down by Hand American. I can not get an answer to the polite emails I send. I don't know what else to do really.

Before I discovered that Chris was providing such a good service, I broused the net and discovered that you can have this stuff made to order at just about any grit size you want. I didn't look into price or minimum quantities. The powder is used either for poishing gem stone or as a pigment to colour paint green

Incidentally, you can buy aluminium oxide .5 powder for polishing. I know that many of the old barber hones had this material as the cutting material in the clay base. But I doubt back when they were made .5 was available. Also aluminium oxide is used in the Thiers Issard honing paste that I regularly use and it gives a nice soft a edge to a blade.

Has anybody tried the aluminium powder on leather?

Originally Posted by English

I'm in he process of buying some off Chris because I to have been let down by Hand American. I can not get an answer to the polite emails I send. I don't know what else to do really.

Before I discovered that Chris was providing such a good service, I broused the net and discovered that you can have this stuff made to order at just about any grit size you want. I didn't look into price or minimum quantities. The powder is used either for poishing gem stone or as a pigment to colour paint green

Incidentally, you can buy aluminium oxide .5 powder for polishing. I know that many of the old barber hones had this material as the cutting material in the clay base. But I doubt back when they were made .5 was available. Also aluminium oxide is used in the Thiers Issard honing paste that I regularly use and it gives a nice soft a edge to a blade.

Has anybody tried the aluminium powder on leather?

I have alum oxide paste on leather, but it isn't doing anything for my blade yet because it still needs some work on the fine grit hone