Which Hand American Magnetic Pad?

[JBHoren]

The Hand American website offers the following magnetic pads, for use with their Corian base:

11" X 3" Scrubbed Horse Price: $25.00
11" X 3" Full Grain Bovine Price: $18.00
11" X 3" Full Grain Horse Price: $18.00
11" X 3" Hard Wool Felt Price: $18.00

Does anyone have firsthand experience with any-or-all of these items? I'm especially interested in the efficacy of "hard wool felt" as a flat-strop medium.

Thanks in advance!

[ScottS]

I'd give HA a ring and ask. I understand they're very helpful.

[Viktor]

I think the best leather for finishing is the full grain horse. If you intend to use compounds I recommend using the rock hard felt.

Regards,
Viktor

[JBHoren]

I think the best leather for finishing is the full grain horse. If you intend to use compounds I recommend using the rock hard felt.

Exactly what I was interested in reading! Yes, I plan on using compounds/pastes for sharpening, and then my trusty Russian Shell hanging strop for finishing. Thank you!

I'd give HA a ring and ask. I understand they're very helpful.

Having read Viktor's reply, I will definitely call Hand American to verify what he wrote, as well as ask additional questions (and, perhaps, place an order). Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[joel]

The Hand American website offers the following magnetic pads, for use with their Corian base:

11" X 3" Scrubbed Horse Price: $25.00
11" X 3" Full Grain Bovine Price: $18.00
11" X 3" Full Grain Horse Price: $18.00
11" X 3" Hard Wool Felt Price: $18.00

Does anyone have firsthand experience with any-or-all of these items? I'm especially interested in the efficacy of "hard wool felt" as a flat-strop medium.

Thanks in advance!

I'd get a Tony Miller paddle. Cheaper per side, and more convenient. 3" on the hand american is a little wide for pastes (in my opinion) as if you don't have a perfect bevel, you'll need to go back to hones. With narrower pasted paddle strops you can tune up ever so slightly bent blades, or blades with a slightly "off" bevel with ease - and without having to put a bunch of work into them evening out the bevel.

As an aside, I own a few hand america products that I bought about 4 years ago - and they're quite nice, but Hand American is really difficult to deal with, at least in my opinion. I'd love to try more of their stuff - but it's been so difficult for me to unsuccessfully purchase an Old Dog strop - i've kind of written them off. I'll spend my money with Tony.

Hope this helps.

[gglockner]

I'd get a Tony Miller paddle. Cheaper per side, and more convenient. 3" on the hand american is a little wide for pastes (in my opinion) as if you don't have a perfect bevel, you'll need to go back to hones. With narrower pasted paddle strops you can tune up ever so slightly bent blades, or blades with a slightly "off" bevel with ease - and without having to put a bunch of work into them evening out the bevel.

As an aside, I own a few hand america products that I bought about 4 years ago - and they're quite nice, but Hand American is really difficult to deal with, at least in my opinion. I'd love to try more of their stuff - but it's been so difficult for me to unsuccessfully purchase an Old Dog strop - i've kind of written them off. I'll spend my money with Tony.

Hope this helps.

+1 Tony's products are top shelf. You might pay a bit more for the initial investment, but then you would have four different options on the strop versus only one. I found HA not very user friendly as well.

Glen

[crankymoose]

+1 Tony's products are top shelf. You might pay a bit more for the initial investment, but then you would have four different options on the strop versus only one. I found HA not very user friendly as well.

Glen

+2 Own some of Tony's products all top notch as is his customer service, and I too just found out HA not very easy to deal with, would not buy from them again despite there products which look very good.

[jlander]

I'd get a Tony Miller paddle. Cheaper per side, and more convenient. 3" on the hand american is a little wide for pastes (in my opinion) as if you don't have a perfect bevel, you'll need to go back to hones. With narrower pasted paddle strops you can tune up ever so slightly bent blades, or blades with a slightly "off" bevel with ease - and without having to put a bunch of work into them evening out the bevel.

As an aside, I own a few hand america products that I bought about 4 years ago - and they're quite nice, but Hand American is really difficult to deal with, at least in my opinion. I'd love to try more of their stuff - but it's been so difficult for me to unsuccessfully purchase an Old Dog strop - i've kind of written them off. I'll spend my money with Tony.

Hope this helps.

Can't agree more on the Tony Miller strops. I have 2 - 3" Artisan's (Linen/Canvas & Horsehide/Black Latigo) and they are really high quality. I know Bill Ellis uses the HA system (from his restoration CD) but I have no experience with it so I can't compare.