Thread: 1st Shave With a Japanese Razor

SiRed8 you're correct! Jim had told me about the photos but I'd forgotten - aviation in Colorado has been a bit exciting lately! That's my lady both before and after Jim added the wraps. I'm sitting here with it in front of me right now. I really like it! I've been lusting over that next larger blade and may go for it after seeing firsthand how nice they are. Also looking at the strops there as well. I do like my Premium II from Lynne but I think it may be nice to have a few different "grit" strops.

You and me both Paul! I have Jim's site bookmarked. I initially had my mind set on the 1/3/5 cordovans as each were different thickness ( their even counterparts are just 6cm longer ). Rather than confuse you, Jim recently updated the section with information:

These strops are all made of high quality cordovan leather hand selected and worked by Yoshimasa Naomi. The different models are based on leather thickness/length. There are 4 grades of leather: 10000/20000, 30000/40000, 50000/60000 and 70000/80000/90000 (the first number denotes a 60cm strop, the second 66cm--for the 7/8/9, the 7/8 are 60cm, 9 is 66).

The highest grade, the 7/8/9, are professional strops. They are made with the thickest, hardiest leather, meant to stand up to years of hard use every day by busy barbers, but with the same smooth, luxurious finish of all the strops. In addition, the 8/9 models are tri-strops, adding a second, slightly napped horsehide leather element as an intermediate between the linen and the fine cordovan finisher.

The thinnest strops, the 1/2, are entry-level strops. Over a few years time, they may begin to stretch or warp under normal use. The midlevel strops are of course a balance between price and thickness (and thus, durability).

For a normal user, Yoshimasa-san recommends the 30000/40000 as the best all-around strop. The 50000/60000 leather is good for the heavy user, the edge hobbiest or honemeister. The professional strops are just that--professional grade, for the heaviest user (or for the perfectionist/completist...)

All strops are roughly 6.7cm wide. However, as these are handmade from natural materials, there may be slight variations in color and size (up to +/- 1cm in length/width). If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

Kanayama Cordovan Strops

I loved the Iwasaki so much so that I got another in size 1. Now it's just matter of acquiring those J-spec waterstones and strops mentioned.

Here's a nice post on naguras:
Eastern Smooth: More than you want to know about Nagura...(LONNNNNG)

I've been seriously lusting over various Naguras I've seen but since the ones I seem to like most are running $3-$4K I may have to wait on the strop or a second blade - but I'm not sure I can do that! Especially since that 8,000 model strop is so nice. So many "tools" for shaving and so many demands from family for silly things like eating and shelter! :-)