Can i put chromium oxide green powder on linen side?

[SIB]

I was thinking on using some chromium i got on the linen side..i like all my strops and use them almost daily....so i dont wanna "ruin "tham with the stuff, by the way its in powder form.
If its possible, what is the best way to do it?
Thanks guys a lot for the feedback.
be well

[JoshEarl]

Yep. Do it lightly.

Josh

[JoshEarl]

OK, I'll elaborate just a bit.

I like to use the back side of the linen whenever possible. Do the strops come apart? If so, you can use the back for the paste. Then if you decide you don't want it pasted anymore, just flip it around.

For chromium oxide powder, you can use water to apply the paste. Oil of some kind would work, too, but water doesn't leave much residue. Use only a tiny bit of paste. Hanging strops work fast, and pasting lightly means you can just do more laps if necessary. There's no cure for too much paste, aside from scraping it off somehow.

Josh

[matt]

What are the noticeable differences when stropping on chromium oxide that has been applied to linen, as opposed to say, a TM paddle?

[Kenrup]

What are the noticeable differences when stropping on chromium oxide that has been applied to linen, as opposed to say, a TM paddle?

Using pastes on a paddle can be a way to prolong the need to hone. I use pastes on paddles and hanging strops. On my hanging strops, I just do a few laps every now and then and it helps keep my edges very nice. On paddles, I use one on my bench as a part of my finishing process. If you don't hone, this a good way to keep your razors sharper longer.

[joke1176]

should be ok, I use chro-ox liquid on my linen strop. I would try alcohol as the carrier liquid though, evaporates a lot faster, reduced risk of clumping of the powder versus water.

[JoshEarl]

Matt,

Good question. It seems to me that edges from a pasted hanging strop--as opposed to those from a pasted paddle.

One theory about this is that a hanging strop has some give to it, and it imparts a slight rounding to the bevel. In the knife world, a properly done rounded bevel is supposed to produce a stronger, longer lasting edge because there's more metal behind the edge.

I'm not sure if this is really what's going on, but I have noticed that the edges last longer.

I also feel that a hanging strop has less tendancy to overhone, at least with chromium oxide powder.

Josh

[Lynn]

The main reason for the Cromium Oxide is to improve the smoothness of the shave. Assisting in keeping it sharper longer is an additional benefit.

Lynn

[Moleman]

Ok, I know, this is an old thread, but I want to share my experience with Chromium Oxide on linen, too.

Here in Germany it is very common to use an acrylic paint, made by the company "Lukas". This paint contains the colour pigment "PG 17", which actually is ChrOx.

I applied the the paint in thin layers with a sponge on the linen side of my hanging strop. After honing on my finishing stone (blue slate 6k-8k), I always do 20-25 laps on the linen/chromium side. In the beginning, I always pulled the strop as taught as possible, with no give at all. In terms of HHT, I got the best results. Recently I stropped with a little give to the strop, the razors came out sharp too, they were absolutely shave ready, but the last little bit in terms of sharpness was missing.

Meanwhile, I restored a lot of vintage strops, mostly paddle strops, and prepared them with paint, too. It worked well, but to be honest, applying the paint on linen works for me mucht better: The paint dries better, doesn't leave a sticky surface which has to be throughly sanded and in addition, I believe, the blade results in being sharper, too.

Many people do not recommend to use linen with ChrOx, they are afraid of damaging the edge with the linen structure. (BTW: Hardly anyone here in Germany uses linen). Well, at least it works for me quite well.

Have you made any similar experiences. What do you think, can there be any disadvantages with stropping on the linen side, which is never completely even. Or is even the structure of the linen side the key to success?

Picture of the linen side, with its' uneven structure:

[Elon9669]

Thanks for the info. I just got back from the art store with a $10 tube of Winsor & Newton. I hope it's got the .5 grain. I was curious what the pg17 meant. they had 2 versions, and both listed the pigment as "anhydrous chromium oxide(pg17)". one was labeled as "fine". I got the other tube because it was not $20, and $10 for 6.75 oz vs. $20 for 3 oz. seems less expensive.

Let me know if you guys have tried this brand. It comes from London England.

Why isn't everything painted green?