Stropping pastes

What is the difference between chromium oxide .5 micron spray and 15 carat .5 micron diamond spray? And do you use both? Thanks guys

I am not sure what products you are specifically talking about but it sounds like the carat is likely a diamond based product. so the structure of the abrasive will be different giving it different polishing properties and by that they will feel different on your face.

Is one better then the other for a smooth shave?

I don't use either. However smother is the reputation of crox

What does "smother" mean?

smoother! Typo!

Donboblo,

The 0.5 micron diamond cuts fast - I mean fast, so be careful with it. (I also use 0.5 micron diamond to finish my high carbide knives, and it cuts those fast too !!)

IIRC (more experienced users will chip in with the correct info.), it is the shape of the particles, as well as their hardness, that is responsible for the finish on the razor's edge.

The diamond, being harder and more 'spikey' tends to leave a more 'scritchy' edge (deeper micro-scratches). The CrOx, being a different shape, leaves less well defined mirco-scratches, and thus leaves an apprently 'smoother' feeling edge.

This is the same sort of argument that is put forward supporting coticules - the garnets are supposed to leave a much 'smoother', skin-friendly edge.

What I have found is :

Be careful with the diamond - I prefer to use it (0.5 & 0.25 micron SRD spray) on hard surfaces (leather) - it works a treat. Very, very quick.

CrOx - in my experience, you can have at it. I have been doing some tests recently, using 100 - 200 (Yup :)) laps on 0.5 micron CrOx powder dusted on a very flat, very smooth, leather paddle strop, and have found no downsides at all. No excessive wear, just a very smooth and shave-able edge :)

Have a play and see which you prefer :) Experimentation is one of the pleasure of straight razor shaving :)

Have fun :)

Best regards

Russ

hey Phat, with the 100+ passes with CrOx powder on leather, is any black residue accumulating- and if so, is it easy to clean the leather off and start anew? If easy to clean this would seem to be an advantage of leather over, say, hard felt.

I have been agonizing over hard felt vs hard leather for my CrOx work and this may tip the balance. Typically I read the abrasive is sprayed on in liquid form, am I to understand you "dusted" the dry powder onto the leather to mean one can just dip a finger in the powder and lightly work it evenly onto the leather?

You can apply dry to leather, but mixed with a drop or two of mineral oil or most any oil would give better coverage and prevent cross contamination that dry powder would have. You don’t need much.

Chrome Oxide will work on most any smooth surface from wood to paper and will deliver different results depending on the amount of give to the substrate.

Cloth and paper work best in my opinion. I find an X pattern works best as opposed to complete coverage.

So Euclid when you strop with this paste on cloth or paper does it turn black as when using Mother's mag and Al polish, and do you then just throw it away and make a new one ? I usually just put Mother's on a hard paper cardstock then throw it away. That's why I'm wondering about the CrOx on a dedicated leather on wood paddle. I'm thinking if used sparingly it could go a long time without cleaning, then just a light wiping with damp rag and start over.

Also I'm curious why you prefer X pattern over full coverage - doesn't that make for speed bumps when the edge passes over ? Perhaps the paste layer is so thin it does not rise above the substrate ?

i use both stropping treatments i use crox on the back of my canvice and and in the back of my leather which is suade with no notable difference. also I dont use x pattern on my strops as they are already wide enough for full blade coverage. I do have to use x pattern for honeing. not because its not wide enough, just because thats what people here told me to do. sometimes we have a way of over comlicating things in our head.

Chrome Oxide is not as abrasive as metal polish, most of which contain Aluminum Oxide to cut quickly. Metal polish leaves a harsh, ragged edge.

No, your strop will not turn black. Cotton Canvas or Poly Canvas work well or paper and cardboard (Cereal Box type) for paddle strops.
If you want to experiment, buy a sheet of foam core from a dollar store, they use a rougher paper than the better, pricey one. Cut into 3 in strips and paste away.

By X pattern, I mean the application of paste, not stropping stroke. The paste should be thin not heavy and thick that you feel while stropping.

The X pattern allows for polishing and cutting in one stroke.

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