Hand American Products.

[memorael]

I was wondering if anyone here uses any of these products and which ones with what? Thanks.

[netsurfr]

I have not purchased products recently but I still use two double sided strops that are mounted on corian and sit in a corian stand. Three sides are pasted with cromium oxide and the fourth is a nice unpasted leather strop. The thing that I like most about this setup is that the fixed strops are about 12 inches in length giving a nice long stroke when stropping.

[heavydutysg135]

Don't waste your time or money with this company. My friend Sergiobruna over at SRP ordered a few strops from them over three months ago. After many unanswered calls and emails he still does not have what he ordered even after being led on several times. At best their communication and customer service are sorely lacking. I have heard that their products are good, but what use is that if you never actually get them?

[Dave_D]

Don't waste your time or money with this company. My friend Sergiobruna over at SRP ordered a few strops from them over three months ago. After many unanswered calls and emails he still does not have what he ordered even after being led on several times. At best their communication and customer service are sorely lacking. I have heard that their products are good, but what use is that if you never actually get them?

Unfortunately, this seems to be the current state of things with that company.
I returned a few strops back in November and am still awaiting a resolution after months and numerous voicemails, emails, etc.
On the upside, I finally recieved a response to my last email that said they were having email problems and that a number of orders would be shipping 4-7-08.

Fingers crossed.

Dave

[heavydutysg135]

On the upside, I finally recieved a response to my last email that said they were having email problems and that a number of orders would be shipping 4-7-08.

Fingers crossed.

Dave

This sounds like BS to me and it's the same story that they have been giving my friend for at least weeks (probably months). At least his email system was working well enough for him to get the credit card information and manually make the charge when he got the order several months ago. Furthermore, I don't really see how email problems would affect production, taking care of their prior commitments, their phone line etc. Just really really poor customer service. Just go with Tony Miller at thewellshavedgentleman and he will take care of you. If there is a problem then he will communicate with you and take care of it when he says he will.

[joke1176]

Man, I ordered some Chrome Ox. a few months ago and had a great experience with them. Good email correspondence, fast shipping, you name it!

I guess I'm glad that I got out before the ship sunk, but I still feel bad for you guys.

[joel]

Another +1 in the loser category from me. Keith is really miserable to deal with, doesn't return emails, and is a big time flake. It'd be one thing if he made the best products, or was the only fella in town - but frankly Tony Millers stuff is superior, and Tony is a joy to deal with - and provides outstanding customer service. I'd ignore hand american.... in a big way.

[asbjorn]

Have ordered stuff from Tony, but was looking for the green stuff.. when I ask, everyone says Hand American, but no answers from them, same with japaneseknive.. takes time..

[Mike_ratliff]

Tony's may not be green, but it works just as well.
and Tony has a larger variety of options, get a 4 sisde paddle from Tony with 0.5Cro and 0.25 DP, and you can't go wrong.

[heavydutysg135]

In the absence of a really extraordinary circumstance (which should be communicated to the customer), if you can’t deliver a strop within three months of receiving an order and taking payment then you don’t deserve to call yourself a “business” imo. My father runs a classic car restoration shop, and he has restored a car in less time lol.

[memorael]

I think im staying away from this tish. Just got my starter strop from Tony. Got to hand it to him he is THE MAN

[TstebinsB]

I think im staying away from this tish. Just got my starter strop from Tony. Got to hand it to him he is THE MAN

Good call. Tony's strops and customer service are excellent. I tried to purchase Hand American products last August and I got no response for months! Stay away!

[edk442]

After countless and unknown delays, and a little more than 2 months of waiting, my strops are finally underway. I must say that his response time to emails has been impeccable...but only if I email him first prompting him for updates.

[heavydutysg135]

After countless and unknown delays, and a little more than 2 months of waiting, my strops are finally underway. I must say that his response time to emails has been impeccable...but only if I email him first prompting him for updates.

What do you mean they are underway? Do you mean that he told you that he started them? In my friend's case, Keith's responses about progress to emails have not been true when he does decide to respond.

[TstebinsB]

After countless and unknown delays, and a little more than 2 months of waiting, my strops are finally underway. I must say that his response time to emails has been impeccable...but only if I email him first prompting him for updates.

I hope so.. :rolleyes:

[heavydutysg135]

I just wanted to let everyone know that my friend did finally get his strops from handamerican and really likes the products:
http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20848

[edk442]

What do you mean they are underway? Do you mean that he told you that he started them? In my friend's case, Keith's responses about progress to emails have not been true when he does decide to respond.

I meant that they were in the mail. Actually they arrived just shortly after I had posted they were underway (that very same day)! I have a review here:

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20868

[heavydutysg135]

I meant that they were in the mail. Actually they arrived just shortly after I had posted they were underway (that very same day)! I have a review here:

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20868

To me "underway" in this context means in production and "on the way" means they are in the mail :smile:

[Dave_D]

"will be shipped Monday, 4/7/08"... in regards to my order, still havent received it.

How many different ways are there to interpret that? I will post accordingly when this transaction is honored. Until then, glad at least a few guys are happy with what they paid for and finally received.

Dave

[Chrisl]

I'll be the first to admit, I'm a sucker and a glutton for punishment; I was on Hand American's website last night and fell hook, line and sinker for the horse butt strips and felt pads (alternative to canvas). The one horsehide strop I have is my fave, way better than the red latigo for me so I want to make some to have an extra or two. Against some advisement here, I went ahead and depleted my Paypal account. We'll see what happens.........

Chris L

[JBHoren]

Another +1 in the loser category from me. Keith is really miserable to deal with, doesn't return emails, and is a big time flake. It'd be one thing if he made the best products, or was the only fella in town - but frankly Tony Millers stuff is superior, and Tony is a joy to deal with - and provides outstanding customer service. I'd ignore hand american.... in a big way.

Interestingly enough, I've had wonderful experiences with Hand American, in my recent dealings with them.

Perhaps I was "in the right place, at the right time"... but I was fortunate to access the HA website yesterday and today and, lo and behold, Keith totally revamped the site's home page, including a lengthy and informative explanation for (what appears to have caused) the delays and communication problems.

As he stated, email contact is preferred, and I took it to heart. Within a few hours, Keith had both answered all of my questions, as well as processed my order (which will be sent-out on Monday).

My recent order was for a bottle of CrO2 liquid, to which Keith added a large-sized piece of hard wool felt (8"x3"). I quickly saw that the liquid CrO2 is unsuitable for use on the felt; however, I found an as-yet unused block of CrO2 compound, which I easily applied to the felt.

Over the past four days, I've taken four different (and ill-shaving) razors through 30 gentle passes on this CrO2-pasted hard wool felt "bench strop", and each one has given me a two-pass BBS shave. Talk about "taming the wild" razor's edge!

And I owe it all to Joel, who is, arguably, the fiercest proponent of pasted-strop honing, and a staunch supporter of finishing with a CrO2-coated surface.

As other users have written, the CrO2-stropped edge is, for me, "buttery smooth".

Thanks to Keith and his "maturing" Hand American outfit!

Smooth shaving!!

[asbjorn]

I have had a interresting experience with handamerican also, first i tried to contact HA, and at that time the email on the frontpage was [email protected], I newer got an answer, and after reading around I heard that I should contact one of the distributors, japaneseknivesharpening.com, I did so, was pleased by fast answers, but after trying to place the order, I newer got any furter. after three weeks of waiting (and in the meantime I sendt emails to ask what is happening) I sendt an email to say that I cannot wait for this forewer.

Then I visit the HA site again, and noticed that the emailadress was now [email protected], so after a couple of hours with some mailexchange with Keith, I have ordered and paid my stuff.

And Yesterday I received everything, I bought all of the powders and pastes since I finally could do the ordering.

So in the end, contacting the right way, I'm very pleaced with HA.