Use of powders

Hey all,

So after watching Lynn Abrams video on razor refreshing, I decided to venture into the honing medias. I have excellent results with my straight razor via daily stropping (an unremarkable strop nonetheless, but it gets the job done). I can usually get 3-5 months of shaving out of my blade (depending on shave frequency, and level of consciousness during stropping) before I send it back to the manufacture for sharpening. So I got some iron oxide and chromium oxide, hoping to lengthen the life of the edge, however I am unfamiliar and uncertain of how/ where to apply the powder; It a stand alone powder, not suspended in wax or other substances. Reading other forums, some suggest application directly to the linen side of the strop or making a strop specifically for the abrasives. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

You will find answers to all of your questions in What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Library and the articles linked therein.

Have fun!
Robin

I use Chromium Oxide on a leather paddle strop and Ferrous Oxide (may be the same as Iron Oxide?) on a leather paddle strop. You can use these powders/pastes on leather, linen, felt, denim, etc. I mix the powder with mineral oil and spread very thinly on the leather. Be careful not to spread it too thick or it will ball up on you when stropping. I use these pasted paddle strops after honing a razor or after touching one up on a barber hone and get some very smooth shaves.

Thank you RobinK for mentioning that. I thought about that after I posted but before I could edit my post you already did it.

Thanks! Heading there now!

After honing on a Norton 8k or Naniwa 10k stones I use 2 home made strops before stropping on leather. The first home made strop is linen with DMT Dia Paste 1 micron and the second is denim with Chromium Oxide Designers Gouache (Windor & Newton). The linen and and the denim each I glued on to two separate pieces of 3 inch wide x 12 inch long MDF base board using Cryola Project glue. After drying I use a fixative spray on these strops to prevent them from bleeding. I use the CrO on denim for refreshing my edge. I prefer these two over crayons and powders.

Attachment 211965

So here is how they came out. I lapped them with a piece of glass (it was that flattest surface i had a round. It definitely put an edge on my Straight American Straight razor. Thanks for all your guy (and gals if there are any) help and input!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NarcanHammer

Hey all,

So after watching Lynn Abrams video on razor refreshing, I decided to venture into the honing medias. I have excellent results with my straight razor via daily stropping (an unremarkable strop nonetheless, but it gets the job done). I can usually get 3-5 months of shaving out of my blade (depending on shave frequency, and level of consciousness during stropping) before I send it back to the manufacture for sharpening. So I got some iron oxide and chromium oxide, hoping to lengthen the life of the edge, however I am unfamiliar and uncertain of how/ where to apply the powder; It a stand alone powder, not suspended in wax or other substances. Reading other forums, some suggest application directly to the linen side of the strop or making a strop specifically for the abrasives. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

---

I like the diamond paste spray best. I use .50 micron (30 laps) and .25 micron (50 laps) on a fabric strop (one other than the one attached to the leather) and it does a great job refreshing the blade. CrOx is too messy for me to use. I painted some on a piece of balsa wood and it never dried.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I like the diamond paste spray best. I use .50 micron (30 laps) and .25 micron (50 laps) on a fabric strop (one other than the one attached to the leather) and it does a great job refreshing the blade. CrOx is too messy for me to use. I painted some on a piece of balsa wood and it never dried.

---

I do the same but with a SRD modular paddle strop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I like the diamond paste spray best. I use .50 micron (30 laps) and .25 micron (50 laps) on a fabric strop (one other than the one attached to the leather) and it does a great job refreshing the blade. CrOx is too messy for me to use. I painted some on a piece of balsa wood and it never dried.

---

I found the crayons real messy specially the DOVO black/red during summer. Chrome Oxide Gouache on fabric strop is worth investigating. Cheers!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gerrydimz

I found the crayons real messy specially the DOVO black/red during summer. Chrome Oxide Gouache on fabric strop is worth investigating. Cheers!

---

How are you applying the red and black crayons? I find generic vegetable-tanned leather sanded to ~220x to be a nice toothy substrate. Then the crayon is repeatedly rubbed over my thumb and the thumb is lightly applied to various contact points on the leather, charging it. Once the surface has been covered in a spotty fashion, I then rub my palm over the whole to even things out. Works pretty well for me.

After using this hands-on method, it is important to wash one's hands off thoroughly. The same hold true for iron or chromium deposits lodged beneath the fingernails. Run a knife or flat-head screwdriver under the nails to clean them.

I tried it on balsa on a summer day. The red was softer than the black. It was messy just peeling the tin foil open even if you freeze the thing. I never did like the waxy surface of the crayon strops. What I liked best is a Chromium Oxide Gouache (water color) in denim.