Chromium oxide for strop

[TB_London]

Hi all,
I have some CrO powder and was wondering what it would be best to mix it with to form a paste suitable for applying to strops, leather balsa etc?

I ask as using the powder it's hard to get an even coverage, it's quite dusty/messy and generally seems less user friendly....

Anyone have recommendations?

Thanks in advance

 

[99Limited]

I think mineral oil would work. I'd start with about a teaspoon of mineral oil and add the CrO until you get a paste you can work with. I picked a teaspoon because I don't know quickly the powder will thicken the mineral oil.

 

[Aphex]

Why not turn the CrO into a spray instead?

Simply mix the powder up with some pure alcohol, put it into an atomisor (or what ever they're called) and spray it on. I got nice even coats doing it that way.

Check out Dave's blog on how it's done http://japaneseknifesharpening.blogspot.com/2010/02/applying-chromium-oxide-to-felt-pads.html

 

[Dave Martell]

You can also go the HandAmerican route and mix it with a product like Lexol's Leather Conditioner which has lanolin & glycerin in it to make a semi-paste.

 

[TB_London]

Cheers for the advice guys, I'll have to look and see if I can get alcohol for the spray in the uk, looks intriguing

 

[rulesnut]

+1 on the Lexol Leather Conditioner. When it comes to leather, there is nothing even close to Lexol.

 

[Aphex]

Cheers for the advice guys, I'll have to look and see if I can get alcohol for the spray in the uk, looks intriguing

I got mine from ebay. It's known as Isopropanol and it absolutely stinks http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ISOPROPANOL-I...ponents_Fans_Heatsinks_SR&hash=item2a06484dec