Thread: Kanayama/Kanoyama Strop Edited

The red imp is not treated with anything. It has a stiffener of some kind between the two layers. Most linen has a chalk like material which acts like the stiffener and adds some abrasive to it. I periodically scrub my linen with detergent and a brush and it comes out looking like brand new. It has a very pale beige color to it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The red imp is not treated with anything. It has a stiffener of some kind between the two layers. Most linen has a chalk like material which acts like the stiffener and adds some abrasive to it. I periodically scrub my linen with detergent and a brush and it comes out looking like brand new. It has a very pale beige color to it.

Stiff is what I'd say is the effect on the silk finish linen. It's so stiff that you'd expect by the feel and sound that it might dull the razor. I don't think (But don't know) that there's anything remotely abrasive in the silk finish linen I have, just a hard waxy feeling stiffener. Does anything at all come off of the linen on the red imp and stay on the razor? Just the tiniest slight bit of hard waxy residue on the bevel and spine comes off of the silk finish, no appreciable black on the linen after two years of use.

I can imagine the linens would've varied from supplier to supplier.

The silk finish I use looks like this:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...p-strop-2.html

but whiter...the one I got was still in the paper from the 1940s or so, though - unused, and the strop it came on (illinois 361 horse butt) was also unused, but I didn't find a lot of favor with it because I don't think the surface treatment on the strop aged that well, and I have another horse butt strop already broken in. The two could've been put together by an ebay seller who found boxes of parts, too.

At any rate, it would be nice if the modern makers of strops would reverse-engineer it. There are a couple of patents for strop treatments out there, but no guarantee that they have anything to do with the substance in my strop. IIRC, they are abrasive-free, but one of them did include creosote.

Wonder if your linen started off white and oxidized?

I believe the old "Silk Finish" linen were manufactured using actual linen (flax), as opposed to cotton. Hard to find these days. Unless anybody wants to reopen some of the old mills in Belfast?

After soaking my linen/canvas component of my Kanayama for 40ish mins as suggested by Birnando I let it dry overnight and stropped on it tonight. I must say I really like the feel of it now, not so much like cardboard! Unsure as to weather it has effected the abrasiveness of it? Will start using more often no doubt.
Still much prefer the suede component though...

My Red Imp came brand spanking new old stock in the box and sealed. It was never stiff and chalky and the first time I washed it the usual white stuff didn't come out. It just a soft piece of material like a sock with a stiffener material in between the two sides. With the stiffener it at first glance seems like the usual stuff but once you use it you realize the actual fabric isn't stiff.

However they did it, it's the best linen strop I've ever used.

I came across this thread when looking for info on how to clean my new-to-me Kanayama 70,000. It was very helpful!

Has anyone seen the info on the linen strop on the aframestokyo website? It's hilarious, but interesting. I think I'll just run mine through the washing machine a couple of times.

******PLEASE DO NOT USE THE CANVAS STROP WITHOUT ANY TREAT TO BE SOFTER******

The new canvas strop is very tough and hard cloth, so it might get damage to your razor blade. If you do not have time to do below processes, please take off the canvas strop from leather strop, and wash it in washing machine with softner at least several times like new jeans. The new canvas strop will be softer and it is forgiven the lapping of razor blade.

=====How To Make Softer Canvas Strop=====

It is kind of hard work, but if you will try to do it, please do like below:

Put on body soap (solid one), and wash it away

Put on the canvas strop on the wood board, and pounding with wooden hammer on the round portion of the wood hammer side to kill the tough fibers.

Washing by brush

Rubbing solid body soap

Washing by brush

Wrapping by Nagura to polish the surface of the canvas strop

Washing by washing machine

Drying at shade a couple days

Putting on body soap by brush

Wrapping by beer bottle strongly

Please do the all above processes three times

The Master himself was asked why the canvas strop was so stiff and he said it was the only material he could source in Japan serviceable for a strop. So basically you get it in an unfinished state and it's up to you to complete the process.

I had read this info about pounding it and such too when I got mine. But I used fabric softener and a couple was cycles. I had to reglue the leather piece back on the bottom of it but it works just fine now. As far as the suede part, I do use it, but just for making sure my razor is dry before going to the 70K strop. I used to love the feel of it but now it's not a biggie for me. Just a few laps before the leather and I know my blade is dry.

Originally Posted by joelkerr

I came across this thread when looking for info on how to clean my new-to-me Kanayama 70,000. It was very helpful!

Has anyone seen the info on the linen strop on the aframestokyo website? It's hilarious, but interesting. I think I'll just run mine through the washing machine a couple of times.

******PLEASE DO NOT USE THE CANVAS STROP WITHOUT ANY TREAT TO BE SOFTER******

The new canvas strop is very tough and hard cloth, so it might get damage to your razor blade. If you do not have time to do below processes, please take off the canvas strop from leather strop, and wash it in washing machine with softner at least several times like new jeans. The new canvas strop will be softer and it is forgiven the lapping of razor blade.

=====How To Make Softer Canvas Strop=====

It is kind of hard work, but if you will try to do it, please do like below:

Put on body soap (solid one), and wash it away

Put on the canvas strop on the wood board, and pounding with wooden hammer on the round portion of the wood hammer side to kill the tough fibers.

Washing by brush

Rubbing solid body soap

Washing by brush

Wrapping by Nagura to polish the surface of the canvas strop

Washing by washing machine

Drying at shade a couple days

Putting on body soap by brush

Wrapping by beer bottle strongly

Please do the all above processes three times

I can share my method.
Take a plastic bin. Add water and liquid detergent. Soak linen with the leather end sticking out of water. It will get wet eventually but it doesnt harm the leather.
Soak for 4-6 hours then scrub, wash with hose.
This time I added little pounding with a rubber mallet for fun.
Back to clear water and let soak.
Take out, rest flat and let dry. Eventually I hang it to finish the drying process.
Once dry run it on a rolling pin and you are done.
Fairly simple and it works every time.

Personally, I wouldn't let the Kanayama fabric strop anywhere near any of my razors. It's way too stiff and coarse. Maybe after treatment but I have a few vintage linen strops that are just leagues better than his.