Thread: CrOx Contamination on Loom Strop

So, an update:

Lighter fluid worked really well to get the contamination off of the clear side of the strop, but between that and the age it also needed to be reconditioned. I give it some neatsfoot oil which it absolutely soaked up. The colour and draw are a bit different but I'm happy with how it worked out.

For better or worse, I took some drastic measures and also decided I wanted to reapply the pasted side so I likewise tried to get as much of it off as possible. My logic is this: if it really is a red crox, then great, I'll replace it with some of the green stuff I have; since the grit is approximately the same it shouldn't matter too much. Alternatively, if the red stuff could be the much finer 0.1 stuff, which I wasn't overly interested in, going to up to 0.5 should be fine. Neither WD40 nor lighter fluid was able to get the pasted side even remotely clear, so I instead took to sanding the leather down and refinishing the side. I haven't re-pasted it yet, but I'm also happy with how it has turned out, though the grain has of course changed a bit (see pictures). Overall, it's been a pretty interesting little experiment.

The formerly pasted side:


The clear side after it was reconditioned with neatsfoot oil:

Did you use a belt-sander?

The problem with sand paper on a strop is the risk of imbedding loose grit in the leather. One grain can ruin an edge.

I prefer to scrape leather with a sharp cabinet scraper, it also leaves a napped finish on leather, like a fine suede, that takes paste well.

Make sure your “Green Stuff” is pure Chrome Oxide or you could be contaminating the leather with other unknown and of unknown grit size abrasive. Some polishing compounds, contain very little if any Chromium Oxide and while it will polish the bevel, will leave a rough shaving edge.

Pure Chrome Oxide and Ferrous Oxide can be purchased from Kramer Pigments inexpensively.The color and draw will calm down once the oil is absorbed into the leather in a week or two.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Did you use a belt-sander?

The problem with sand paper on a strop is the risk of imbedding loose grit in the leather. One grain can ruin an edge.

I prefer to scrape leather with a sharp cabinet scraper, it also leaves a napped finish on leather, like a fine suede, that takes paste well.

Make sure your “Green Stuff” is pure Chrome Oxide or you could be contaminating the leather with other unknown and of unknown grit size abrasive. Some polishing compounds, contain very little if any Chromium Oxide and while it will polish the bevel, will leave a rough shaving edge.

Pure Chrome Oxide and Ferrous Oxide can be purchased from Kramer Pigments inexpensively.The color and draw will calm down once the oil is absorbed into the leather in a week or two.

No, no belt sander, just 320 grit wet/dry. I was pretty worried about loose grain embedding too, but it feels good so I think I got away with it. A cabinet scrapper would have been a good idea though.

Thanks for the tip on the Chrome Oxide. I'm not sure Kremer Pigments ships to Canada, at least not cheaply. I was checking out some of the pastes at Maggard Razors and they seem to have both good reviews and are very affordable, at least as far as I can tell.