Thread: I got Tony's Strops today WOW!!!!

I just got back from traveling these past couple of months and I must say that Tony's paddle strop rocks! I really like that Latigo leather for finishing; on the sharpening side, I applied a little TI paste to refresh the edge if needed.

Hal

Hal, Welcome back!!!

Ok, I am going to jump in here waist deep...

I have always used a hanging strop...
I have 2 - one 2" with past and linen, and a 3" Dovo.
Which is better? - the paddle or hanging - or is it personal preference... JerseyLawyer seems to like the hanging strops like I do, but I admit that sometimes I take it off the wall and lay it on my desk and use it "like" a paddle strop.
Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?

And lastly...

Tony: describe in detail your three leather choices on your site [for the hanging strops]. You touched a little on it so far. I am dieing to find out. Oh, when are you getting more Belgian stones in? I have a friend [here] going to want one - and I hate going outside the site here with business!

Thanks in advance!

Jim,
I don't think you can really say one style of strop is better than another as in my opinon they are for different tasks. The hanging strop is a tool for daily stropping before and maybe after a shave. It aligns the edge, it really does not sharpen if you want to classify sharpening as metal removal.

The paddle strop on the other hand is, well on a 4 sided paddle anyway 75% a tool for sharpening by metal removal with abrasive pastes. The other 25% would be the plain side for regular stropping and it is added as a compromise so a single tool can do too jobs.

Both are designed for different tasks. I do have a few customers that only use a paddle though for daily use. Maybe they have little room for a hanging strop or maybe they like having more control.

As for the leathers on my site I actually offer 4 types for hanging strops. My Heirloom Latigo which is a matt finish, oil/wax treated vegtable tanned leather. It has the most draw of any of my leathers and of any strop I have owned or tried. Next would be the natural leather. This is a harder surfaced, plaing leather that really needs to be dressed to use it effectively. I like Neat's Foot Oil on these and soak them a few times now before selling them. Sadly they won't look as pretty because the leather does not take the color from the oils evenly and looks a little mottled. it can also satin around the hardware. They work well but to me are not as pretty.

I also offer Keith DeGrau's fine Hand American leathers. These are a slick, hard finish leather with a high silica content. They work more by polishing I think than through the draw they create. the slick finish does not give as easy to feel feedback but they get the job done well. These come in a smooth finish and a finish with fine crosshatching cut into them to create more draw. Keith has put a lot of research onto his leathers and I am sure he could add volumes to this if he is lurking here tonight <g>.

My newest daily strop is my Latigo on the front and Hand American diamond cut red on the back with the meatl loop ends. I use a separate lien strop with it when I want that surface.

BBoth the Dovo and Jemico strops are fine products too. I have seen but not owned strops from them and would like to try a few out to get more feedback for my own designs.

I hope to have Beligians by weeks end.

Tony

I prefer to use the hanging strop for my daily stroipping, but have a paddle for travel because it's easier than transporting a hanger, and pocket paddle for pastes too.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I also offer Keith DeGrau's fine Hand American leathers. These are a slick, hard finish leather with a high silica content. They work more by polishing I think than through the draw they create. the slick finish does not give as easy to feel feedback but they get the job done well.

Would that be like the 361 strop or different?

X

X,
The Hand American leather is much smoother than the Illinois #361 and has a slick, shiney finish. It almost looks polished. As s mooth as it looks it does have some drag to it though which may be a result of the silica draging on the blade and polishing to some extent.

The #361 has a much different feel, maybe closer to my Latigo than ther Hand American but with much less draw than my leather.

Tony

Better change that first $361 to #361 in your post. Gave me a heart attack [cause thats my next purchase!) Tony!