Thread: Hand American

I have heard several of you guys mention ordering custome strops from vendors. What do the cuxtomizations generally intail, what are you looking for? Thanks

Originally Posted by Toddo

I have heard several of you guys mention ordering custome strops from vendors. What do the cuxtomizations generally intail, what are you looking for? Thanks

I just wanted a longer stropping surface. The Old Dog strops have a standard 15 1/2" x 2 1/2" stropping surface. I measured my favorite strops, and found I like about 20" of stropping surface. All the strops I have now are ones I made myself. The 2 1/2" width is fine with me, I just wanted more length of surface. I know of one guy who got a 24"x4" working surface on his. That's a bit much for me, but people figure out what they like, and folks like Tony can accomodate them. To my knowledge, Tony and Keith (HandAmerican) are the only two folks who can make you a custom-sized strop. Tony, especially, is a regular contributor here as well, and has helped a lot of folks develop the skill of stropping. His work is top-notch, and deserves continued support. You won't go wrong with his work. I hope I can say the same when I get my HA strops. Use a few, figure out what you like, and it can be made. It's very personal, so a broad, "this is what we're looking for" answer isn't really possible. You know now what I wanted, so maybe a few others will chime in and say what they want in a custom strop.

I also tried the HandAmerican "Scary Sharp" system (magnetic flatbed hone, glass plate, and sandpaper system) last night. Sharpened 3 knives with it (Spyderco VG-10 Endura, Opinel #8, and a Lone Wolf Loveless folder) It really works well. There's a bit of a learning curve compared to a conventional stone (mainly with the paper/adhesive combination....I finally learned to use a rolling pin to get the paper really stuck to the plate with the "grip" adhesive), but I was able to get a hair-popping edge on all three knives in short order. I did follow up with a final few passes on a Spyderco fine ceramic hone, but most of the sharpening was done on the glass/sandpaper hone. Another fine product from HandAmerican. I personally don't think it's good for razors, as the paper has some "give" which would round the edge without a lot of pressure (which you don't want with razors), but it works very well for knives. The mylar paper (up to 60,000 grit) that Keith has might do the trick, but standard wet/dry paper isn't so hot for razors, IMO.

Joe

Originally Posted by Toddo

I have heard several of you guys mention ordering custome strops from vendors. What do the cuxtomizations generally intail, what are you looking for? Thanks

I am having a custome strop made by Tony Miller. The difference between what I want and what he regularly sells is that my strop is 4" wide by 28" stropping surface between rivets. Some of my blades are to long for the 3" and so wide that a shorter strop is really sort of difficult.

Thanks for the feedback on customizing. I know already I want the 3" wide at least. I want to be able to go straight back and forth instead of x'ing. I think I'm managing it ok on the paddle but would love to be able to lay the whole blade on at once. Not sure on length yet, again, longer than the paddle I think. So what about handle? Some where I read a recommendation for leather handle not metal.

Well, I said I'd post a review when I got the strops in...
If they work as good as they look, I'm in for a treat. I purchased 2 from Keith. One with red latigo/red diamond, the other with natural/black latigo, with 20" working surface (2.5" wide). Beautiful workmanship, and a helluva price for the pair. The hanging hardware and tensioning ring (the D-ring...that's what I call it, anyway ) are outstanding, and very heavy duty. I got them both with the padded D-ring handles, as well. I can't say how they work, but the finish on them is comparable to my two favorite strops, so I'll imagine, just for the sake of argument, that they're going to work similarly well. They are beauties, though, and Keith darn sure knows leather. Did I need both? No. Am I glad I got both? Hell yeah.

Got a chance to use the strops (all 4 sides). One word: PERFECT.

Tony, why don't you create a regular 28x4 surface model called "The Monster"? It would really go well for people who want to go big.

I got the scary sharp system a year ago. It was very nice but I really love my four sided paddle from Tony Miller. It is the best..

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Tony, why don't you create a regular 28x4 surface model called "The Monster"? It would really go well for people who want to go big.

Ilija,

It's almost too big to be practical <g> but we will let Josh decide if it works for his monster razors. It's his design and I look forward to his thoughts.

From a makers point it is too big in a way as it requires it be cut right from the middle of a hide so therefore wastes other areas for regular strops. It would not be one to make on a regular basis but I had a hide that lended itself well to making the monster.

Should be off to Josh on Monday.

Tony