Thread: Chromium Oxide Usage

I've tried CrOX on leather, newspaper, felt, balsa and linen. I have to say that I find it works best with with light pressure on the linen. Basically in my experience it works well with everything except leather. Could be just me.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Yup, I strop on CBN daily, usually .125um, but in the past used Chrome Oxide, Ferrous and Cerium Oxides on canvas, paper or leather for years.

The worst that could happen with high nano grits, is the edge can micro chip, a quick jointing and re-setting the edge, will easily resolve that.

With a paste maintenance schedule and proper stropping, a razor may never need a full bevel setting again.

before I shave, every time, I make 14 passes (hardly any pressure) on the CROx side of the leather and 40 passes (hardly any pressure) on the smooth leather strop side. Every time I get an exceptionally smooth close shave. However, in reading this, my fear is that I could be damaging my razors. Can you help me understand if I'm doing something wrong? Many Thanks!!!

A few years ago several of us tested Chrome Oxide, stropping daily with the same razor for over a year. None of us had an edge issue and did not have to re-hone or touch up the razor during the test. I stopped after a year but I think some went even longer.

I am talking about Nano grit paste in the .125 or .10 um range, the equivalent of 120 and 160k grit range. Chrome Oxide is about .50 – 30K grit equivalent.

When we strop on these exstream nano grits and some stones, like the Shapton 30k and the GS20, on some steels, it you do too many laps the edge can get too thin, will not hold the edge and begin to micro-chip. You may be fine for 5-10 shaves and then with repeated stropping the edge micro-chips. You can also cause this to happen on some razors with the GS20 and make the edge uncomfortable straight off the stone.

This is not an issue with Chrome Oxide, unless razor quality “Chrome Oxide” is not used. You will not damage your razor stropping on chrome oxide unless you use too much pressure on a hard substrate. Of course, result will depend on the condition of the edge prior to stropping.

But even if micro chipping occurs, it is simply a matter of Jointing the edge and re setting it on a finish stone, only a sliver of the edge is removed and can be restored in just a few laps.