Thread: CrOx on linen! Waste of time?

I bought just an old linen strop and cleaned it up. I chrome ox'd it and it works great for touchups.

I've just put Cro Ox (waxed block shavings melted in Neat'sfoot oil) on one side of my linen strop and it works great. before I had rubbed the hard wax block into the linen but it made a thick layer that cracked in the cold and stuck to fibres giving an uneven surface.

With a little of the oily mix rubbed lightly across the top of the linen it soaks in evenly and works a treat, just got my four best razors sharper than ever using this method.

I rubbed the back of the razor up and down to smooth it into the fibres.

WARNING, apply thinly with feather light strokes or it will go through to the other side of the linen.

I reckon I'll make up a small bottle of the green oily mix to apply as needed, the green block is not so great on it's own.

So what store can I purchase some CrOx powder from? Is water/CrOx powder mix still the preferred method for applying the power to linen? If so, what ratio of water to powder should I use?

Originally Posted by mziter

So what store can I purchase some CrOx powder from? Is water/CrOx powder mix still the preferred method for applying the power to linen? If so, what ratio of water to powder should I use?

Chris L might still have some Chromium Oxide powder. I think I paid $4.00 and he gave me enough to paste at least 5 strops. Send him a PM.

I use neatsfoot oil as a medium, it works great.

Oh and I forgot to mention, if you buy from Chris L, he sends you instructions on how to mix the powder and also how to apply it.

I’ve never used any linen “components” in my sharpening, honing, and stropping regime, so I can’t say it it’s good or bad. As far as CrOx goes, the stuff is dirt cheap. I glued some leather scrap on a wooden kitchen cutting board purchased at T.J. Maxx and ripped it on a friend’s table saw. 2 dirt cheap paddle strops. CrOx + a little neatsfoot oil gives you the equivalent of very high grit 30,000+ honing stone, almost literally. It will make all the difference in your sharpening and leave your linen to do other things with. Results that will blow you away and did I mention – Dirt Cheap? Remember, if it’s too good to be true it probably is not – This does NOT apply here! How many times in life does that happen?

I forgot I won a "selective" leather and canvas on ebay and figured it was a piece of junk. Do you think it would be alright for the CrOx? I can post a picture if you want but I think you guys probably already know of there quality.