Thread: Plain linen vs. CrOx linen vs. CrOx leather

After doing much reading on the topic of using CrOx, I am still a little unsure about the expected results between plain linen, Crox'd linen, and Crox'd leather. I have an unpasted IRS 127 now and am getting a Jemico 23" Rusian leather soon. The leather on my 127 looks like it fell in a blender, but I have a good linen piece that I am debating on pasting.

My first question is, would you expect a difference between .5 CrOx on linen vs. CrOx on leather?

Second, I strop on plain linen about 1 out of every 10 shaves and just use leather on my daily shaves. Would my stropping on plain linen still be ok after using CrOx every now and then for touch-ups?

Lastly, with my finishing hone being a 12k, is a pasted strop really necessary, or can I just go from 12k to linen to leather?

Thanks!

I've heard that linen vs leather with crox is really just a user preference. You have to do both to really get and see a difference due to the variation in razors.

My razor may benefit from crox with lined and your might benefit just as well or better if you used leather with crox.

This also applies to the crox after the 12k. If you're getting amazing shaves with just the 12k then why change it up?

But if you think it could improve, try and and see.

Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer, but it's really a trial by error game.

I don't know the precise answer to your questions but I can tell you what I do. I mainly use chrom ox on felt on a flat bed. Magnetic like the SRP modular. I also have a Livi loom with chrom ox on linen. Either works well. I always strop on untreated linen or webbed fabric before the leather.

I use chrom ox to smooth an edge that feels harsh or that is pulling a bit. If it is pulling it is going back to the hones but I'll use the chrom to get through the shave. So I only use it once in awhile. The main thing, IMO, is to keep an untreated linen/leather strop as your daily driver and have the pasted alternatives for use as the need arises.

Jimmy's got the right answer as usual. Keep your daily strop (leather and linen) free of CrOx and other pastes. With a properly sharpened razor, there should be no need to use CrOx on a regular basis, and doing so will round off the sharp edge quickly, requiring you to do more honing.

Personally, I don't generally use CrOx for anything, but when I do, I use CrOx on a balsa strop that I got from Ray on this site (although I don't see him offering these stops anymore, so maybe he's done with making them). If a blade is pulling or digging in when I'm shaving, I think I get better results by going over the edge on an Escher or Japanese finishing stone for 50-100 laps and then stropping on plain leather. That almost always does the trick.

Originally Posted by JeffE

Keep your daily strop (leather and linen) free of CrOx and other pastes. With a properly sharpened razor, there should be no need to use CrOx on a regular basis, and doing so will round off the sharp edge quickly, requiring you to do more honing.

Sorry, this is correct and I don't think I made mention of it in my previous post. Crox should be applied to a spare strop, not your everyday one.

Jimmy is right.

If you want to use Cromium Oxide on something you can get 1/4x3 balsa wood at hobby lobby cheap.
You can also get 2mm thick dense foam with a sticky back for a $1 a sheet. I like the spray on Crox on balsa or the foam.
I also use .05 diamond spray on them.
When I come off the Chinese 12k I hit the diamond hone 5-6 passes and the Crox 8-10 passes and have a super sharp edge.
But that is what I like for my 1 pass wtg shave.


Silver2

johbu151;
I use the CrOx on leather after final finishing hone. Cotton linen would absorb more of the compound than the leather. Leather is a less porous and more rigid substrate.

Experiment with this yourself to determine what works best on YOUR face. I finish honing at 30K+, then strop 12 to 24 laps on CrOx Leather, then 50 to 70 laps on plain leather. Yes you can use CrOx after 12K. Yes you can use CrOx for refreshing an edge. My guess is your face will thank you if you give your razor 12 to 24 laps on the CrOx after the 12K.


Don’t over do the CrOx, follow the guide in SRP Wiki and apply the CrOx in an X pattern on your strop of choice. FYI. Chromium oxide is a carcinogen. Wear latex gloves when applying the material to a strop. That should be updated in the Wiki. Limited exposure should not be a problem. A little goes a long way.

Have a nice day,
MIke

Originally Posted by MODINE

johbu151;


Don’t over do the CrOx, follow the guide in SRP Wiki and apply the CrOx in an X pattern on your strop of choice. FYI. Chromium oxide is a carcinogen. Wear latex gloves when applying the material to a strop. That should be updated in the Wiki. Limited exposure should not be a problem. A little goes a long way.

Have a nice day,
MIke

Over-do'ing CrOx is huge. From what I've read you can't reverse it if you've put on too much. Or at least it's really difficult too. So start off small and work up if you feel you need to.

Also +1 on the carcinogen factor. I always wondered why people said to use gloves.

Originally Posted by MODINE

Chromium oxide is a carcinogen. Wear latex gloves when applying the material to a strop. That should be updated in the Wiki. Limited exposure should not be a problem. A little goes a long way.

Have a nice day,
MIke

That would have been handy to know yesterday when I was spraying my strop with it, heh. I'll store that knowledge away for next time.

Sorry it took so long to get back to this thread and respond. Thanks to everyone who replied to my questions, and also mentioning the safety concerns with Crox. I may or may not try it depending on how the blades are coming off the finishing hones.