The same formulation as the ‘Strop It’ paste, now in convenient hand poured bars. For stropping you need a much higher concentration of abrasive particles to binder than you would find in commercial compound for use with machines, hence proper strop bars are more fragile and a little bit dearer than you might expect.
Is it worth it? Absolutely, the ability to produce and rejuvenate superb quality edges in a few strokes rather than dozens simply by choosing the right product for the job soon makes up for little extra you paid for it.
Chromium Oxide (Cr2O3 ) is a superfine, 0.3 micron, polycrystalline abrasive, it is the mineral that gives green polishing compound it's colour. Most polishing compositions include a comparatively high proportion of wax as they are intended for powered use, proper stropping compound has more mineral and less binder making it substantially faster to get a good result.
Unlike the brittle shards of silicon carbide or the sharp crystals of diamond, chromium oxide is like tiny ball bearings that burnish and polish the surface of the steel, blending microscopic scratches into a smooth continuous surface. In shaving terms, chromox makes the difference between a close shave and a comfortable one.
The most effective way we've found to apply the compound is to scribble across the leather in a cross hatch pattern.
For most people this bar will be a lifetime's supply.
- 170g
- Approx: 120mm x 30mm x 25mm