CrOx Paste Question...

Which is the best medium to apply CrOx paste? Is it better to apply it on leather or on linen? I have an old Illinois 827 with the stiff, fine white linen on back and the rough leather on front. I also have a brand new Tony Miller 2.5 in horse hide with the very soft grey-brown linen on back. I was thinking to paste the "827" on the linen side, and how much? I saw somewhere to use "enough to fit on the tip of a toothpick?" I know you don't need much, but that amount seems very conservative. What would you suggest as the stropping progression, ending on the TM horse hide?
Thanks!

I use CrOx on hard pressed wool felt and that works for me pretty well, haven't tried it on leather though. I use just enough to leave a light even green coat on the strop

If you have old linen I would never ruin it by applying the CrO to it. That linen is like Gold. You can use just about anything else. Personally I have a leather bench strop with CrO on it.

If the 827 is old as in upgraded by the TM then the inner side of that linnen. If true old vintage maybe just balsa its cheap then the 827 then the TM to complete your progression.

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Originally Posted by boaz65

Which is the best medium to apply CrOx paste? Is it better to apply it on leather or on linen? I have an old Illinois 827 with the stiff, fine white linen on back and the rough leather on front. I also have a brand new Tony Miller 2.5 in horse hide with the very soft grey-brown linen on back. I was thinking to paste the "827" on the linen side, and how much? I saw somewhere to use "enough to fit on the tip of a toothpick?" I know you don't need much, but that amount seems very conservative. What would you suggest as the stropping progression, ending on the TM horse hide?
Thanks!

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Hi - I have the Illinois #827, and it's a fantastic strop, the hard linen side, that's feels very stiff is actually:

Attachment 156231

The linen side feels very stiff due to the zinc oxide, and I find it gives blades and extra kick before hitting the leather. Many here use this strop, it's my go-to strop, and if you could restore it, I'd do that.

In terms of crox, while I have an old strop with some crox pasted on the back of the leather, I bought some felt lined balsa board quite awhile ago, and pasted the crox on that, much more effective IMO and you don't potentially contaminate your strop.

Good luck!

I have put Chrome Oxide on leather, linen, nylon, Cotton & Poly canvas, denim, paper, cardboard, Craft foam, balsa, various woods, and all work… as it is the Chrome that does the work as long as the substrate is clean and free of it’s own built in grit. Which is why I do not like balsa for paste.

Personally I would not paste a good or vintage linen or leather strop as there are so many other substrates. If you want to experiment, paste a wooden paint stir stick, 5 gal is best and you can’t beat the price.

My current go to Chrome Oxide strop is a Poly Canvas Sailcloth with 3 in X’s pasted on it, but as I said Chrome Oxide works on almost anything.

Just be careful about your Chrome Oxide purchase as all Chrome Oxide is not the same…

Attachment 156245

Using the 5gal paint stirrers! What a great idea!!! I know where I'm stopping on my way home today!

+1 on Phrank's comments. I have an 827 bought new around 1978-80 and it also has a canvas strop. In fact, I bought another one last year just to get the canvas since I prefer that for the post-shave cleanup stropping and the old one was almost black from use. The "rough leather" (Russian finish) is perfect for use with crox. I agree with thebigspendur, don't mess with the genuine linen; it's too precious.


rs,
Tack