Thread: Kanayama #3 where to go from there

Originally Posted by Iceni

Your final leather should not be abrasive.

So the only difference in the strops can be length, width, texture, draw, Thickness and finish.

No performance gains will ever be got between leathers. Your leather would have to be abrasive for that to happen.


The linen counterpart on the other hand can affect the razor. Even more so with compounds. So get the best quality linen, and a good quality leather.

Anything claiming to be a better stropping material for your final leather is hyperbole and the gains will be ephemeral. You are by large grading the audible and tactile feedback and converting that into illusional gains.

I respectively disagree with you theory regarding progressive stropping. I have been doing so for many many years now, and I can categorically say that progressive stropping is a huge benefit towards a more refined edge. When I finish an edge on the hones and I'm ready for the strop I go thru at least 4 different strops Starting mostly with the Lipshaw Microtome diamond patterned panel followed with Russian napped and finishing with either a Latigo or shell finisher. I certainly know the difference between leathers. And I think I'm a good witness to the fact that Ive been doing this for a very long time now, and my set up is a pretty good neutral testing ground since every leather panel is on a Lipshaw Microtome so I have consistency. Most razors of mine can be refreshed with the progressive cycling of leathers.
Oh and by the way all the panels of my 3 Lipshaw Microtones are Neil Miller's Like I always say "If Your gonna have it, have it right"





And Neil Miller's leather is right.
Darl (Tarkus)

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Excuse me, but I thought I should respond with a huge rebuke - RUBBISH!

I thought that you may have read what many others here have posted - obviously not.

Hmmmmm....absolute pronouncement made about leather in regards to razor strops from a consumer.

Another opinion given by a manufacturer and expert in said product.

Yup, next time I contract out some work for a IT project, I'll make sure to hire the local baker to set up the data center and get the network engineer to make me some muffins.

Geez - that's a hard call, think I'll stick with, "RUBBISH" - thanks Neil!

Topic aside for a moment I do bloody admire the way Englishmen use the word "rubbish".
: )

Originally Posted by lz6

Topic aside for a moment I do bloody admire the way Englishmen use the word "rubbish".
: )

Neil has obviously gone from being merely "miffed" to downright "cross", hence the, "rubbish" comment.

Thank you for those responses, I think you have cleared a few misunderstandings I have about strops, And probably created some new ones as well!

My intention with the rather passive aggressive post was to see if there actually was something unique about different strops, And if so how does it measure. I've read a lot of strop threads and they all seem to end in the same way with no real answer just opinions.

And I think it is fair to say the opinion on strops is divided in some respects, In others it is not.

Neil I owe you a direct apology. It was not my intention to inflame you either directly or indirectly. I merely wanted to post an opinion that I knew would cause people to respond in as factual a manner as possible. It was wrong of me to do so. In doing so your strops have come out as been not only of the highest quality materials, I also see that you go beyond been a craftsman and deep into the realm of been an artist. You were offended enough to attack me directly. And I think that speaks volumes about just how much of your soul goes into your work. Thank you for been honest and caring. And I also thank every one that defended Neil and his strops. You've just made me want one more than ever.

Thaw, developing and improving your stropping technique will do more for your edges, than buying a more expensive strop.

The Nanayams no. 3 is a nice strop and capable of producing a fine edge, but until your stropping skills improve, neither will your edges.

Many folks have their favorite strops and believe that strop can produce the best edges for them. But I doubt any one could tell one strop from another in a blind shave test, by an experienced stropper.

As said, so much of this hobby is subjective and many have strong opinions on what works best… for them.

The best strop, is the one you know how to use.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

The best strop, is the one you know how to use.

And i thought it was the one I haven't bought yet.

Originally Posted by thaw

I find myself wondering about other horses butts

Story of my life Bro...

Originally Posted by Iceni

Thank you for those responses, I think you have cleared a few misunderstandings I have about strops, And probably created some new ones as well!

My intention with the rather passive aggressive post was to see if there actually was something unique about different strops, And if so how does it measure. I've read a lot of strop threads and they all seem to end in the same way with no real answer just opinions.

And I think it is fair to say the opinion on strops is divided in some respects, In others it is not.

Neil I owe you a direct apology. It was not my intention to inflame you either directly or indirectly. I merely wanted to post an opinion that I knew would cause people to respond in as factual a manner as possible. It was wrong of me to do so. In doing so your strops have come out as been not only of the highest quality materials, I also see that you go beyond been a craftsman and deep into the realm of been an artist. You were offended enough to attack me directly. And I think that speaks volumes about just how much of your soul goes into your work. Thank you for been honest and caring. And I also thank every one that defended Neil and his strops. You've just made me want one more than ever.

The notion that there are some magical differences between strops is pretty much held by a small number of folks. I think most realize all strops do the same thing. I say that as a guy who used to collect strops and at one time I had a strop from just about every critten that walked, crawled, swam or ran. They all did the same thing. Some looked nicer and they all felt different but that was about it.