Tony Miller double-leather strops?

Hopefully Tony will be able to answer this.

I was looking on your site as I'm thinking of getting a new strop to replace mine which I slashed the hell out of whilst learning to strop. :o :cry:

On the main page I noticed this text which I hadn't spotted before:

My hanging strop models have been expanded with some new hardware options as well as including my previously special order leathers and designs now as standard menu items. My Heirloom Red Latigo which I introduced to the razor strop market last year is now paired up with my Heirloom Black Latigo and a new Honey Brown Smooth. The Latigo quickly caught on as a favorite because of it's superior draw that had not been found on strops before and the Honey Brown Smooth with it's vintage feel is perfect for finish stropping. There are double leather versions of my #1 BEST for those who want the best characteristics of several leather types as well as a new all linen strop too.

This sounds interesting. I never use the linen side of my strop so I'd probably go for a double leather strop. How does the Black Latigo compare to Red Latigo in terms of draw, or is it purely the looks that are different? I assume for double leather people would go for one or other of the Latigo's and the Honey Brown on the reverse side?

What sort of cost (shipped to UK) would a double leather #1 (3" wide) strop be?

Thanks,

Iwan :)

Iwan

I received my Tony Miller strop today (thanks Tony, I am soooo happy!).

Whatever the price is, don't forget to factor in the tax concern. Royal Mail will apply VAT at normal rate, however they also include a 'handling fee' for clearing the customs/tax on your behalf. They pop a card into your letterbox which tells you how much payment is required and you go to your local handling office to redeem it and collect. The handling/clearing fee from Royal Mail was £4 (VAT was £5.76), so it was far from breaking the bank. Not sure if the clearing fee is a flat fee or if it's incremental. I guess I'll find out later this month when I receive my Norton hones in the post from the US.

Mark

Mark,
Excellent point. Many overseas customers just don't realize there may be additional fees when they order from abroad. I know VAT is likely to be added but didn't know the mail service tacked on fees as well.

Here in the US imports via the Postal Service, if under $1200 or so have no broker fee where as all UPS shipments will and it can be $20-40 for a package. Taxes are different and it depends on the items.

Most customers realize this but not all. I have had a few e-mails were customers were surprised and expected me to know the costs of import for their countries. All I can do is make and sell these and let them know they may experience additional costs. This is just one of the factors why many USA vendors stop short at International shipment. Tracking, proof of delivery etc.... are all pretty lacking on International shipping unless the most expensive methods are chosen and then customers feel they have been ripped off when they pay over $20 in postage.

Tony

In my experience you don't always "get caught". I've received a number of shipments from the US over the years, some were delivered by Royal Mail and others via various couriers.

On some occasions I was charged, on others I wasn't. The goods had been declared correctly.

Just had a quick loock through the HMRC web site (HM Revenue & Customs for non-Brits). As we're concerned with 'shaving supplies', excise duty doesn't apply. We only have to contend with customs duty and VAT.

Rates depend on the type of goods (especially for customs duty) and there's no easy way for a lay person to find out what they're going to be in advance (short of calling the Revenue and asking many questions).

For those who cannot sleep at night or have nothing better to do, here's a link http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...yType=document:o

For what it's worth, on my last shipment of a Norton 4K/8K and a bottle of Sterol, declared value of $85, I was charged £11.74 (including the Post Office handling fee). Can't recall the actual breakdown though...

I wasn't at home so was left with a card advising me that I needed to pay to be delivered the package. No payment over the phone. Only in person (but I couldn't be bothered driving to the depot) or by sticking stamps on the card. But then the highest denomination stamp the Post Office sells is £1...:hmmm:

Watching the girl behind the counter struggle to affix 15 stamps to that little postcard was priceless
:roflmao

Wow, I had no idea that getting imported goods could be such a hassle. I knew things had to go through customs and that you had to pay a tax on them, but I didn't realize it was such a big part of it all.

I wonder if it is because of our history here in the US that we don't put such taxes on imported goods. That was kind of big deal in the revolution. I mean, we wasted a bunch of decent tea over it. I wonder if it is because of how big a deal it was back then that we now don't institute such taxes.

Matt

I recently received one of Tony's best 3" leather strops with a canvass back. I've tried many. There is none better. Tony, Also sends you a red latigo strop to practice on. As it turns out, the red latigo has quite a different draw than the butternut leather.

A double leather strop is a good Idea.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vincebell

As it turns out, the red latigo has quite a different draw than the butternut leather.

A double leather strop is a good Idea.

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I'd be very interested in hearing about your exerieces with the two leathers because I'm quite torn between which to get for myself, but doubt I could afford the double. The Latigo gets such great marks from people, but I've been using an Illinois 361 which is very slick, more like what I imagine the tan is like. What do you think of them both?

X

Tony sent me a PM saying the message on his site was out of date and he's not making double leather strops any more. Apparently they're harder to make and also they're twice as expensive as a single leather strop.

I just ordered a #1 BEST 3" Red Latigo, can't really go wrong with one of those. :)

Indeed you can't! I received mine last week and hung it up on the back of the bathroom door. I lasted 72 hours on the practice strop before caving in and trying the Latigo. It hung there, for three days, calling me, like a damn siren, with its sexy red leather. Couldn't resist. I'm weak.

(Was extremelely careful not to nick it though!!)

Dosen't suprize me that Tony is not making the double leather strops any more. His leather is so good he'd have to charge an arm and a leg for one and mabe the market's not there.

However, I have made strops myself, using different leathers. Red Latigo, Dimond red Latigo, Black Smooth, plain cowhide. Believe me, the draw on the leathers is real and noticible.

Kinda gets to where you can use different leathers for different jobs. Example, after honing I like the red latigo because it has a nice hard pull and I'm trying to polish the edge.

Before shaving, I like the soft suple feel of the butternut because it's very gentle and just want to maintain a nice edge with a very nice and easy stroke.

Tony's leather is the key. Very thick, very supple, very nice.

Vince, thanks for your comments on the honey brown. It is a smoother leather with a more gentle feel. Much like a vintage strop in many ways.

Believe me if I could get the supply of quality leather I need I'd be glad to make the double leather strops again but supple latigo with a decent surface is not plentiful. I return half of what is sent and that is after my tannery hand pickes to my needs. Flawless hides get tanned into tooling leather....than nice smooth natural tan stuff but with a light draw. The less cosmetically appealing hides get made into latigo so it takes a lot of searching for smooth flaw free pieces and lots of waste. Since I only have a limited supply at any time any double strop I mkae uses up two strops worth of leather and I refuse to charge twice as much for one so simply need to make singles only at this time.

I am working on making some leather only strops as well as linen only (with pretty leather end caps) to meet the needs of those wanting extra leather types without buying another high end strop or wishing to add linen to existing leather only strops they found on eBay.

Tony