Balsa Strop - how much CroOx?

All,

Having watched Lynn's video and also researched a ton of threads here and at B&B, I have a question about pasting a homemade Balsa strop with CroOx.

The bottomline question is...how much paste to use?

In the "How to paste a strop" thread (really informative BTW) its says to go sparingly. In fact, if I recall correctly the OP mentions how his initial strops looked like pooltables and ended up dulling his razors.

But many videos, pictures etc of other pasted strops (to include Lynn's video), the strop appears to be covered like a pool table in green paste.

So...which is the right answer (or...better yet...is there a "right" answer or is this a preference thing?)

Thanks!

Chris

I got my CrOx in a crayon format and applied a very thin layer to the strop, literally just enough to make the leather look faintly green. I then worked it in with my hands to get a smooth and even coating and ensure there were no lumps of it or anything.

You dont want a thick layer of the stuff, it should basically be a thin smearing of it. Less is definately more when it comes to pastes!

Thanks!

But then why do I see so many of these things that look like pool tables (all green)?

Is is old paste I'm looking at?

Oh, and I dont know if it matters or not, but I was talking a simple balsa strop vs leather...

Chris

My strop looks pretty green, but the key thing really is not to apply a thick layer. You want to aim for a very light coating and apply it as evenly as possible.

You dont want a thick crusty layer of the stuff on there..! Remember, its easy to add more if you need to, but its a difficult and messy job to get the stuff off. I cleaned chalk paste off the linen side of my pasted strop before I repasted and it was definately messy!

The same applies with any strop material and any paste, be it diamond or CrOx; Just put on a thin coat.

My balsa looks like a pool table when done. I mix about 1/4 teaspoonful of 0.3 micron chromium oxide powder into 2 ounces of a 50:50 mixture of mineral oil and alcohol and spray it on. Obviously, it is applied quite thinly!

(If you wonder, I shake the bottle before application to suspend and mix the liquids and powder.)

I almost always end up wiping the balsa with a paper towel a few times once it dries to get rid of excess.

Also, remember to wipe your blade before going to your strop. Or you could end up with green streaks....

Mine is as green as the grass, applied very generously, then I wiped off the excess with paper towel. I had it dissolved in some mineral oil for easier application.

Thanks to all for the great advice!

Stropped my first razor on a leather strop I pasted tonight...I wiped the strop with a towel and then the razor after that...all good advice gents much appreciated!

Oh...and the results were buttery smooth cuts of arm hair...so much so that my left arm is almost bare! :)

What I was told is that for leather you put the CrOx on very lightly. For balsa you slather it on.It has something to do with the porosity of the wood. Of course YMMV.

I have never pasted leather so I won't comment on that, but the solid green balsa I have works great.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CraigJ

What I was told is that for leather you put the CrOx on very lightly. For balsa you slather it on.It has something to do with the porosity of the wood. Of course YMMV.

I have never pasted leather so I won't comment on that, but the solid green balsa I have works great.

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Thanks much!

Next question...did you "lap" or sand your balsa? Alot of this pre-fab stuff (like at Michaels etc) looks pretty flat to me...