Thread: Questions from an idiot

OK - then here's another question. I'm no chemist and am really ignorant of some of these things but are the boron and chrome safe? I'm thinking because I have small children in the house. Boron and chromium oxide sound kind of chemically to me.

Would you also use them as you would diamond or Norton in reference to number of strokes. It's been recommended that after I'm done on the 8k Norton, I use the .5 diamond paste for 7-10 strokes. If I used these, would it be similar.

For reference, I have a DOVO 5/8 full hollow from Tony.

There's no hard-and-fast rule, it's really a matter of "feel". I usually do more than that because the chrome oxide is slower than the diamond (which is one reason it produces a finer edge than the similar-grit diamond paste). Usually around 20 laps if I'm coming off the 8k norton. But it just depends, if I'm coming off the 15k Shapton I may only do 5 or 6 laps.

Great, thanks for the help. I'm going to check out HandAmerican when I get ready to get the bench hone.

I got my Cr2O3 from Lee Valley. I think most woodworking type places should carry it since it's a common abrasive for honing tools to a mirror finish.

Glad to hear you're getting a better shave. WEith a little more practice and the right progression from light pressure on the hone to ultra light, you should see an improvement in the quality of the edge coming off the hone.

X

X:

I just followed your link and read the description, it mentioned something about leaving a light wax film. Do you find this to be true on your razor and is it easily wiped off?

Mine does. I think it just means the Cr2O3 is in a wax base so it doesn't blow everwhere. Ilija got the powder from Hand American and mixed it with strop dressing to make a paste.

Cr2O3 used to be used as the pigment for green paint, btw. Back in the old days some guys kept a board painted in green paint for sharpening, same thing as we do now with the paste and paddles only not as fancy.

A little rubbing alcohol on a tissue does nicely. It mostly gathers at the spine. No matter what you're using to polish, you should wipe it off after each grit in order not to contaminate the next strop with it.

X

Hand American has chrome ox in liquid, paste and dry. I presume the paste is what I'd want for the leather bench hone?

6 of 1, half dozen of another.

X

Well, once again y'alls advice was just what the doctor ordered. I stropped before going to the hone to do a touch up. Did the touch up and stropped normally. This was last night. Tonight I shaved and it's even better than the last one. I got much closer still on the jawline and chin AND even was able to do a modified ATG on the upper lip and got that feeling pretty silky.

Now I have a question on the boron and chrome ox. Since I have a Norton, when I get the bench hone from Tony, is it sufficient just to get the chrome ox or should I get a 2 sided hone with boron and chrome ox? As always, I appreciate hearing the reasons behind the advice.

I guess a follow up question is this: How would I proceed from the Norton to the bench hone. In other words, approx. number of strokes on the boron before going to the chrome ox and approx. number of strokes on the chrome ox. Yes, I know this varies by razor and personal preference but I'm look for the basic outline as it were.