Thread: Pasted Strop question

So I pasted a strop with some CrOx, did a couple passes, good shave.
That was a month ago, and think I should refresh with a couple of passes.

Do I need to wet the pasted strop first?

Do not wet the pasted strop.

I can't really tell you if it needs it. It depends on how frequently you shave, the thickness of your hair, stropping capabilities, etc.

Does it shave as well or pretty darn close to a month ago?

A properly pasted chrome oxide strop, is good for years, contamination is more of an issue than “wearing it out”.

Just make sure you are using razor quality Chrome Oxide, and not Hardware Store, polishing paste.

If you are using a pasted strop to maintain your edge, a fairly general opinion is to use it a little often as opposed to a lot but rarely. What I am trying to say is if your shave has dropped slightly in quality give a few passes on the pasted strop. If it has gotten to the point where the shave is just awful it is harder to get the edge back with pastes. There are people around that have developed a routine and have kept an edge going on a razor for a very very long time, like years. dinnermint and Eudiclid440 have both made very valid points. Some have used top quality pastes daily and never hone others weekly and some monthly. You will have to find your sweet spot, but son't be afraid to experiment a little with the frequency of your pasted strops. It is another example of varied experiences, and everyone is right.

A few years ago, a few of us stropped the same razor, on a Chrome Oxide pasted strop, daily, for over a year, just to see what the effects would be.

A stria free bevel and smooth, keen shaves.

If your strop is leather, you should wipe with a damp cloth, every week or two, to dust and add some moisture to the leather.

Chrome Oxide works well on most substrates, leather, cloth, wood or cardboard. I find the crayon easier to apply and less messy. You don’t need much, 3 inch x’s work well.

Thanks for all the responses.
I got the CrOx crayon from SRD so no quality issue there, its on a fabric strop. (one separate from my daily strop)

Applying the CrOx I had to wet the crayon, so was wondering if it needed a little moisture when I go back to it, as the strop has just been sitting there a month.
Your answers helped to clear that up.

You don’t have to wet it, it has a wax skin, just rub it on a piece of cardboard, then apply, if you feel you need more, though probably not, WD40 sprayed on a paper towel will remove most if it if you apply too much.

Applying too much can get messy and contaminate you leather or linen strops. Make sure to wipe your razor well before stropping on plain linen and leather.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

A few years ago, a few of us stropped the same razor, on a Chrome Oxide pasted strop, daily, for over a year, just to see what the effects would be.

A stria free bevel and smooth, keen shaves.

If your strop is leather, you should wipe with a damp cloth, every week or two, to dust and add some moisture to the leather.

Chrome Oxide works well on most substrates, leather, cloth, wood or cardboard. I find the crayon easier to apply and less messy. You don’t need much, 3 inch x’s work well.

When you done your year test, did you strop on the pasted strop then shave? Or pasted then bare leather, then shave?

Just curious.

So, stropping on leather and Chrome Oxide, do much the same thing, except that a Chrome Oxide pasted strop is more abrasive and will polish faster.

Daily stropping on Chrome Oxide will polish a bevel, stria free, eventually and leave the edge laser straight, so you don’t need leather after Chrome Oxide. Most leather, will leave deep stria on the bevel, from dust on a leather strop.

I strop almost daily on .50 or .125 CBN, on a paper strop and shave, the bevel is stria free, leather will only add stria to the bevel.

Take a clean paper towel and dampen it, wipe your leather strop and see what comes off, that is what you are stropping on. Airborne dust is everywhere…

I have a Mastro Livi loom strop that has chromium oxide on linen. I asked Mastro Livi how to clean it and he said when the chromium oxide starts getting black from the metal it's taking off, take lighter fluid and put it on toilet paper and wipe it lightly going one way until the black is removed. He believes in using the crayon or paste very lightly. He says to much will ruin the edge. I found using the lighter fluid also smooths out the chromium oxide. Works great and evaporates quickly. I have also used this on chromium oxide on leather with the same results.