Sources for CrO and strops

R

RyanMM

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Aug 25, 2008
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This is mainly for knives rather than straight razors, but I'm interested in the sharpest edge and quickest maintainence.

I can't seem to find any obvious sources for chromium oxide. My googling found mention of HandAmerican but I'm clueless how to navigate their website or what kind of prices to expect. I read that it's a pigment in green paint but my green oil paints don't contain a trace (quality stuff even: Winsor & Newton.) What other sources are there?

Also, what should I look for in a strop? What are good traits or makers or places to buy one? For example, I've read balsa wood can be used as an alternative to leather. Would it be cost effective and faster to just buy a slab of that? A hanging leather strop would be more organized if I could hang it in my closet, on the other hand. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
 
You can use cardboard, so I am sure balsa would work fine but neither would last very long. Leather springs back, stays supple longer, and doesn't wear out as fast if you use the right compound on it. Something that doesn't dry the leather out works best like CrO, diamond past and many others. CrO is probably the most widely used. If you use vegetable tanned leather the leather even has very fine grit in it but you probably want something a little more abrasive (coarser) and CrO cuts faster then bare leather.

For CrO compound you can get it in a wax bar, liquid, or powered. The Hand American comes in the liquid and power. The liquid keeps you leather real nice. Dave at Japanese Knife sharpening usually has it and the Hand American bench hones but I don't see anything on that page at this time. He is the only outlet for Hand American that I know of. Maybe he is out. I just emailed him you might do the same. Here is a link to that page.

You could get a field Strop and Bark River compound here although a bench strop like the Hand American would be nice and this is two compounds, not just the CrO.

I have heard the Green polishing compound sold at Sears or Harbor freight is CrO.

You could make your own strop. Watch the videos on how to here.
 
 
RyanMM said:
This is mainly for knives rather than straight razors, but I'm interested in the sharpest edge and quickest maintainence.

I can't seem to find any obvious sources for chromium oxide. My googling found mention of HandAmerican but I'm clueless how to navigate their website or what kind of prices to expect. I read that it's a pigment in green paint but my green oil paints don't contain a trace (quality stuff even: Winsor & Newton.) What other sources are there?

Also, what should I look for in a strop? What are good traits or makers or places to buy one? For example, I've read balsa wood can be used as an alternative to leather. Would it be cost effective and faster to just buy a slab of that? A hanging leather strop would be more organized if I could hang it in my closet, on the other hand. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

WoodCraft has it - $7 for huge brick.

Any carpenter store should have.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
gary jp4 said:
For CrO compound you can get it in a wax bar, liquid, or powered. The Hand American comes in the liquid and power. The liquid keeps you leather real nice. Dave at Japanese Knife sharpening usually has it and the Hand American bench hones but I don't see anything on that page at this time. He is the only outlet for Hand American that I know of. Maybe he is out. I just emailed him you might do the same. Here is a link to that page.
Click to expand...

I actually found that site and was wondering what was going on. I'd be interested to know how he responds. That Hand American is elusive stuff, huh?

Here is a link I found that is very interesting:
http://www.straightrazorplace.com/f...8-consumer-alert-chromium-oxide-bars-not.html

It seems not all chromium oxide is of the same quality. It makes me wary to buy some without much details.

I am considering that strop from knivesplus as it sounds like a quality CrO and is 2 cents less than just the leather.

Great responses, everyone. :thumbup:
 
I load a piece of manilla folder carboard with compound, then glue it to a HomeDepot (or Lowes) paint stick using white glue.

When it gets to black or seems to lose its cutting ability, a quick wipe-off with lighter fluid removes the old compound and allows the new compound to slide right on.

Since the white glue isn't affected by the lighter fluid, it stays glued properly during the clean-up/re-load.

You can, of course, use both sides of the stick...I use Cr2O3 one one side, and red rouge (Fe2O3) on the other. Mirror polish!
 
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