Thread: Re-CrOxing a strop

Quick question: what do you guys normally do to apply more CrOx to a leather bench strop? Mine seems to appear dry and the leather underneath some of the worn off chromium oxide looks like it's too dry and cracking. Is there some special way you would apply a second coating or do you just simply put another layer on?

My guess is that by applying a second coating without somehow removing the previous one, that eventually it would build up and create somewhat of an uneven surface.

First, use the utility room or the basement's unfinished part!!

One method is to use a small, very cheap, disposable boar bristle paint /parts cleaning brush to build a lather in a disposable cup. Add a tiny bit of CrOx; about less than would cover your little fingernail. Mix it in well with the brush. Then using the driest of the horribly green lather you can, carefully, paint that onto your strop. let it set over night in a dry place. when it is dry, wipe off the excess with a tissue or two. Do that carefully, otherwise your bathroom rug and you will be green for a long time..(don't ask!) There will be plenty of green for all. I have used this method and it worked well on my tabletop strop. I do not use it on a hanging strop.

You can wrap up the cup and brush in a plastic bag for a later use if you want, they will probably work well with just a little water added. If you have interested young ones, toss the stuff to prevent mini-Hulk look alikes' . For the buck I spent, I just trashed the stuff.
~Richard

If it is only your second time applying it you could reapply it with out removing the old coat. If you want to do that mix the powder with a small amount of oil or strop dressing to form a paste apply that to the strop and let dry. Once dry it should be good as the oil will condition the strop while imbedding the strop with the crox.

If you want to take the strop back down to leather and condition then reapply ( which is what I would recommend). Get yourself some saddle soap and some rags you don't mind tossing.

Your going to want to work someplace you don't mind getting messy. I like a utility sink. Or you can do it on the kitchen table and put down a lot of newspaper.

Use the saddle soap and rags to clean the strop of all the old paste. You won't actually get everything but you strop won't still look green when you get it back do to leather.

You then condition the leather with some oil or strop conditioner. Let the dry. I normal give it a week but a day or two probably good.

Then mix your powder with some rubbing alcohol till you have a paste. Then re apply the paste to the strop and let dry.