Thread: Chromium Oxide

Hello gents

I was planning on buying some Chromium Oxide but the only place I found here in Belgium sold it for 26$ for 80 gr (2.8 oz)

Then I saw some on ebay for about 5$ for 100 gr (3.5 oz). Should it be safe to purchase that one or is there a large diffrence in quality?

100g Chromium oxide-Straight Razor strop paste! pigment | eBay

As long as it us 0.5u ( 1/2 micron) its fine. I get mine from a word workers supply that sells it in lbs (kilos for you bro) for cheap, and it works just as good as what I had originally when I bought my first razor. Nothing wrong with saving a buck or two when you can.

Ok I checked the link, and no mention of its particle size. I would email them and get that info before you pull the trigger. Otherwise you may end up with something that would work like a 10k stone and not realize it.

For the price, I'd just buy it. I haven't seen any chromium III oxide that wouldn't be suitable for how we use it. I have seen it in graded form, both 0.3 micron and 0.5 micron, but as long as it's pure chromium III (and it claims it is), you'll be fine.

Thank you both. I'll contact them to check the particule size before I buy it.

It's likely they won't know, it looks like they're selling it for lab work. Even if they don't, you can buy it anyway. The graded powder that I got looked exactly like that, and I'm not sure it's widely available in anything coarse enough that you're taking much of a gamble.

Well here is a little update from the seller. I got a reply that the Chromium Oxide is about 325-400 mesh. I looked it up and it says it is about 37 - 40 microns. :s. Or am I completly wrong about that?

I agree that 400 mesh is 37 microns ... according to Wikipedia, 400-mesh has a sieve size of .037mm, or 37 microns.

Originally Posted by Heljen

Well here is a little update from the seller. I got a reply that the Chromium Oxide is about 325-400 mesh. I looked it up and it says it is about 37 - 40 microns. :s. Or am I completly wrong about that?

Originally Posted by twobits

I agree that 400 mesh is 37 microns ... according to Wikipedia, 400-mesh has a sieve size of .037mm, or 37 microns.

Wouldn't that be like a fine sand? I have the same CrOx from the same seller, only the 500grams version but it's a very fine powder, I only use it on pocketknives ( I like my razor straight from a JNat or a Coticule to leather ) but it gives a nice and shiny bevel.

If you want to be sure about the micron size you can order from Kremer pigments Germany they have it in 0.3 micron. They also have 0.1 micron iron oxide and lots of other goodies like renaissance wax, shellac etc.

I'm not aware of any chromium oxide anywhere close to that size (that large). It wouldn't work very well as a pigment if it was 37 microns.

I think it's still likely that it would work fine, but if there is a place in germany that has graded pigments, then you might as well get it from them.