Thread: Anyone Try HandAmerican's Strops?

Gents,

Possessing what SWMBO seems to think is questionable restraint, I've recently decided to take a short break from RAD and to devote a bit of time and treasure to feed the SAD a bit. So in looking around for any strops I may have missed in previous forays I stumbled upon a few that got my interest.

First there's the SRD stops. Got 'em all except the new Premium IV. I did read a review on it just now and if it's anything like the quality of the Premium I, II, or III it's gotta be nice. On the list.

Second is one of those sweet looking Kanoyama Cordovans from JimR. All great looking and the specs sound fantastic. On the list - maybe the 6,000 model? I don't really need the durability of the 8K (it sure looks great) but maybe the 6K would balance great leather with some degree of durability?

One other that I just stumbled on is from HandAmerican. The site is a little hard to grasp, but if I read it correctly there are 2 versions? Has anyone tried either? The price isn't bad but I'd prefer to get a bit of info before ordering one. Anyone try either yet?

I ordered a custom 830 a little while ago, I'll let you know how it goes!

I got the 830 now for about a month, although I don't use it everyday I have been trying to use it the majority of the time. I find it works exactly as Keith describes perfect for taming wedges especially when I go to the diamond back and or hard felt strop sprayed with diamond spray. For Hollows I find I need less laps then other strops maybe due to its aggressive feel/draw or could simply be that it is about 6-8 inches longer then most of my other strops I can't tell yet.

For right now I like it better with wedges then hollows but that could change with more use I don't know yet.

It is a quality strop to look no doubt about that, as is my TM latigo and horsehide strops, my SRP blk latigo and my Kanayama 30k. Strop AD I guess.

I have an Old Dog 830 equine/bovine that is the only strop I have used for a couple years now. I use primarily full hollow blades and just a few laps on this strop and they are good to go. I also like that this strop was made with no handles which makes it very easy to hold flat and taught. Keith seems to come and go but his products are first rate.

I have a Tony Miller red latigo and linen, as well as a Kanayama Llama 70K. Both are crazy awesome strops. Extremely well crafted with superb build quality. I also saw the Hand American Old Dog that Seraphim posted and drooled over that one, too.

s.

I use the hand american strop mostly for kitchen knives, and the felt pad I coated with cerium OX a while ago and use that to play around with edges. It also comes in handy (hehe) when I decide to use newspaper, it's a good flat surface.

EDIT: erm, I'm walking about the magnetic backed bench strops, which I don't see anywhere on the website at the moment. BUt those new strops look very nice!

Thanks gents - I already bought that magnetic base as well as a few leather and felt strop "toppers" to use on the base. They're really convenient and I love being able to swap out the different leathers and felt on it quickly. I coated the split leather with 1.0 and another with 0.5 diamond and put CrOx on the felt top - really convenient when I need to use a few different pastes and felt in the same siting. I think I remember that recently he's redesigned the metal base to something a bit less heavy for travel. Sham turned me on to his magnetic strop setup and I have to say I love them when I'm finishing up a hone job.

I was on Keith's site to see about ordering another few leather tops when I saw that new set of hanging strops. It's those 2 new hanging strops I'm wondering about.

Originally Posted by bassguy

I use the hand american strop mostly for kitchen knives, and the felt pad I coated with cerium OX a while ago and use that to play around with edges. It also comes in handy (hehe) when I decide to use newspaper, it's a good flat surface.

EDIT: erm, I'm walking about the magnetic backed bench strops, which I don't see anywhere on the website at the moment. BUt those new strops look very nice!

I have an Illinois and an Old Dog strop from Hand American. It is a thing of great functional beauty. I doubt I'll ever need another strop.

I think you might like Bay Rum Icedog. i got kinda a dumb question but why do you need so many strops. i just started out and i have a hanging strop with linen back and a balsa strop treated with ChromOx, but why do you need more than one untreated strop? just currious not judging, "because i want them" is a good response.

Originally Posted by UtahRootBeer

Why do you need more than one untreated strop? just currious not judging, "because i want them" is a good response.

Can't answer for icedog, but ...

I have a TM, an SRD, a RupRazor, and just ordered an Old Dog 830 "because i want them". For some reason I just like having strops.

So far I think I like my TM best but that may be just because it is the newest!