Chromium Oxide vs 0.5 micron diamond paste

[larrybob]

I have read many threads on pasted strops and it seems that a lot of people use either a 0.5 micron dimond paste or a chromium oxide paste for final polishing. How do the results compare? Which is easier to use?

Thanks

[thebigspendur]

A topic like this like asking a car nut which is better Ford or Chevy or a gun nut which is better Smith or Colt. It really depends what you prefer to use. I think you can get equal results depending on the grade of diamond and the grade of CrO. The diamond is probably faster but other than that its a personal thing. I've used both and I prefer diamond. I'm sure others will chime in with their favorite and why its better and I'm sure other will bring in other media too.

[Bruce]

Big,

After using a pasted strop, is it necessary to strop on hanging leather or can one not use that step for the first shave after the pasted strop?

Bruce

[DwarvenChef]

I've only used diamond past so far and like it alot. Tony's pasted strop in a 1.0 and 0.5 gets me where I need to be. So much or so I'm looking to get another in a 0.25 and bare leather to finnish. It has helped me tramendously

[Jfala]

I agree that this is another personal preference. With that being said, after speaking with Tony Miller about the pastes when I was researching a strop, Tony stated that the diamond paste leaves deeper more defined grooves in the steel due to the pointed "tips" of the diamond paste granules (I'm paraphrasing) which produces a harsher razor edge, while the CrO has rounded tips which leaves a smoother feeling edge to the razor.

Having not used the .5 diamond paste, my paddle has 3 micron and 1 micron diamond paste with .5 CrO paste on the third side, I can't comment directly on the edge it produces. My edges finished with the CrO is very smooth and comfortable.

[ForestryProf]

From my experience, Jeff hit the nail on the head. I have used diamond compounds (1.0, 0.5, and 0.25) as well as the 'black diamond' paste sold by Keith at Hand American (not diamond at all, but don't remember the abrasive compound right now--1.0 micron), and CrO2 (0.5 micron). I've put all of these compounds on various leathers (Thanks Tony), balsa, cedar, maple...various other soft woods, and for me....I now finish all of my blades with CrO2 on smooth vegetable tanned leather. I find that (for me), the edge produced gives a markedly smoother shave than diamond paste of any grit.

Anyone want to buy some diamond pastes and a two sided balsa strop?

Just another data point,
Ed

[kbuzbee]

I agree that this is another personal preference. With that being said, after speaking with Tony Miller about the pastes when I was researching a strop, Tony stated that the diamond paste leaves deeper more defined grooves in the steel due to the pointed "tips" of the diamond paste granules (I'm paraphrasing) which produces a harsher razor edge, while the CrO has rounded tips which leaves a smoother feeling edge to the razor.

That makes sense to me. I'm currently using Tony's .5/.25 diamond and following it up with a dozen or so passes on a black pasted strop. Really nice.

Ken