Thread: Kanayama Strop Care

Thank you gents for the replies, the strop is very supple and soft but has a few spots that look dry, maybe this evening when I am home I can snap a few pics. I do wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth a few times a year so maybe it's the microfiber that's scratching the leather but I use very light pressure and no back & fourth scrubbing.

It does have a very light sheen to it but not shiny like my TM or Scruplework strops, I also use softened water to wipe it with but I am sure that does not matter, all my strops hang in the bathroom but it's a very large master bath and the strops are far away from the shower like maybe 6' or so and the bathroom as I said is a pretty large room.

I have only maintained my Kanayama strops with a daily hand rubbing. This is usually done late afternoon as I wipe my palm across my forehead and use medium to light pressure on the strop.

Well i came home this evening and looked at the strop and it looked ok but then I did a light stropping of about 40 laps and hopefully you can see what I am seeing, the strop looks dry and it looks like light scratches and it does this pretty much with any razor I strop on it, the edge is not affected at all, so is this a concern ?

I've got 3 Kanayamas and they all look pretty much the same as yours. The only maintenance I ever give them is a rubdown with the palm of the hand before use, and a wipe with a damp cloth a couple of times a year to clean the surface. Shell cordovan is not leather, in the strictest sense of the word, since it does not come from the actual skin of the horse. I would be very hesitant to use any leather products on it or deviate from the maker's instructions in any way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_cordovan

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

I've got 3 Kanayamas and they all look pretty much the same as yours. The only maintenance I ever give them is a rubdown with the palm of the hand before use, and a wipe with a damp cloth a couple of times a year to clean the surface. Shell cordovan is not leather, in the strictest sense of the word, since it does not come from the actual skin of the horse. I would be very hesitant to use any leather products on it or deviate from the maker's instructions in any way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_cordovan

I have been using a car wax applicator to wipe it down with, it's like microfiber wrapped arund a sponge so should I use something else to wipe it with like say a cotton tee shirt material instead ?

I just use an ordinary barber towel slightly dampened.

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

I just use an ordinary barber towel slightly dampened.

Well don't have any barber towels so I tossed the microfiber/terri type that was wrapped around the sponge and got a white cotton sock from my sock drawer and will use it, I rinsed it in warm water then rung it almost dry then just wiped in one direction and then wet it more and repeated the process wiping in the opposite direction until the leather was damp and now have it laying flat drying, the spongy thing I was useing felt soft enough and was brand new but I read the Kanayama Care and it says in bold cap letters not to use a terri towel, i showed the car wax applicator to the Mrs and she said it's a terri/micro fiber material, i have no idea why it's not recommended as it feels soft enough but maybe it's what is causing the scratches.

It's also possible i am overthiking this but i am also the guy that turns that screw one more turn , below are what Kanayama recommends

Lay the strop face-up on a flat surface.
Get a smooth, soft cloth, like an old clean t-shirt. Do NOT use terrycloth.
Wet the cloth in luke-warm water and wring it out well--the cloth should only be damp.
Gently wipe the surface of the strop in one smooth motion. Don't scrub or press! Be careful not to get any water on the sides
or back of the leather, as this can lead to hardening.
Allow the strop to dry thoroughly. If the surface still feels like it's not quite right, repeat.

Please note: DO NOT use any commercial leather care products on these strops. Cordovan leather itself is not the same as most
other leathers, and Kanayama leather even moreso due to the treatment developed by Naomi-san. Using products like saddle
soap, lexol or others can destroy your strop.