Thread: Chromium Oxide on Artificial Leather side?

Hi,
I would appreciate your advice on 2 questions I have.
1. I have a double strop with a leather strop and an artificial leather strop. Should I put a chromium oxide paste on the back of the artificial leather side or the leather side in order to refresh my razor?

2. When doing regular stropping, I use the artificial leather side first then go to the leather. The artificial leather is my canvas substitute. Do you think it's a waste of time or that it can damage my razor in any way? The artificial leather feels much more coarse than the leather and is actually quite satisfying to strop on it.

I was on a budget and just starting with straights so bought the below from Amazon.
Amazon.com: Natural Leather Shaving Strop 21": Health & Personal Care

Thank you for your advise.

I'd say you're probably good most of the time just using the leather. I know I use only leather the vast majority of the time, 20-30 laps pre and post shave. Once you notice your blade starting to dull, you could slap some paste on the artificial leather and give it a quick refresh. Just like anything, be careful and watch your angles, doesn't take much to kill the edge.

Thank you Chris. Do you think that the artificial leather isn't really a canvas alternative so in essence a waste of time?

I would go the inside of the artificial strop but only if you realy need to add it you your daily strop

Don’t know what artificial leather is or what it looks like.

But I have pasted Craft Foam, Nylon, woven Polyester strapping (seat Belt type) and Polyester Sailcloth Canvas and cotton canvas with good results.

Really Chrome Oxide works very well on most substrates even paper and cardboard. It should be fine on any smooth surface. On a woven substrate the Chrome Oxide get into the weave and works even better.

It should be fine. Use the best paste you can buy… it is not expensive, do not skimp here, it’s the paste that performs not the substrate.

Thank you all for your advise. I will use it on the back of the artificial leather.

Alex, to answer your original question. Yes strop on you linen or equivalent to clean the blade of soap, oxidation, skin and blood before stropping on leather.
If not then all that crud will imbed in to your leather strop and that is what you will be stropping on.

After using the Chrome Oxide strop make sure to wipe the blade clean, I use toilet tissue and a micro fiber towel or you will be pasting your good leather strop. Leather once pasted can never be completely removed.

Alexisvx,
if you are interested in a truly suitable place to put some CrOx pm me.
We will see what we can do, unfortunately right now I have no clue where you are