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I am contemplating making a balsa and CrO strop. While I realize I could just buy one, I really enjoy making things myself. I have a couple of questions... 1. I imagine that the strop will fall somewhere between a Norton 8000 and stropping on plain leather. Is this correct? 2. Are the CrO "bars" or "pucks" acceptable for dressing the balsa? I am having a hard time finding the plain powder.
TIA
Rick
There are a lot of the bars or "crayons" available. One I see a lot is one offered by woodcraft. However most of the larger shaving vendors have listing that feature a better quality product. These consist of a product that is of a higher verified % and screened to verify consistent micron size. I know SRD has a crayon and Whipped Dog has a powder.
Matt
Thanks Wirm. They carry a crayon but they are out of stock. Or, are you talking about the sprays? I am not sure I know how to use those.
If you want a balsa strop, just buy a piece of balsa for a few dollars from a craft or hobby store, but you can paste almost anything from paper to cloth with Chrome Oxide with good results, a piece of cardboard or fabric belt works just fine. The hardness of the substrate will affect the results/ cutting ability. Balsa has mixed results.
Pure Chrome Oxide is about 30k equivalent.
Hardware store or Woodworking polish “Green” stick are not Chrome Oxide some have very little Chrome Oxide, if any, which is why they don’t even call it Chrome Oxide. If it does not say Chrome Oxide, it’s not. Polishing sticks are aggressive grit or grits that will polish quickly but leave a harsh edge on a razor, which is opposite of true Chrome Oxide.
Trusted sources are most quality razor seller, who carry rebranded Hand America liquid, sprays and crayons or Kremer Pigments powder. A onetime purchase of quality chrome oxide is inexpensive and a life time purchase.
Powder can be mixed with a few drops of mineral oil, a little goes a long way.
Well 2.5" x 16 will be a good size, restrict your area of purchase of CrOx to places selling shave supplies. I got mine from Classic Edge, because I'm in Canada, if you are too it's a great spot for supplies.
Puma extra fein waxy block. Have been using with success, available on amazon etc.
The supplier for the powder
Chrome Oxide Green
A better, cheaper, and more readily available alternative to balsa is the inside of a cereal box.
have you read these posts
I used the Kremer products as follows:
Iron Oxide # 48100 is 0.1 micron
Chrome Oxide #44200 is 0.3 micron
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...addles-oz.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...x-crayons.html