Thread: breaking in kanyama linen strop

Originally Posted by Splashone

What ever it is, If it is not made from flax fibers it is not linen.

You are right.

The word "linen" has become a generic term for most any secondary strop material.

Originally Posted by lz6

Personally I have never used the kanoyama cloth secondary and I never will. I do use it as a tension control measure.

So do you use an alternate form of linen strop, or just use leather? And why would you never use the kanyama one??

Originally Posted by Splashone

What ever it is, If it is not made from flax fibers it is not linen.

Yes, that is true in the strictest sense of the definition of linen. In general use today the term linen is more broadly, if incorrectly, used.

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

Bob

A really good way to soften the linen on your Kanayama would be to soak it for a few hours in a strong solution of fabric conditioner, then rinse dry off then take a steel ruler now strop that linen with quite some force using the edge of the ruler about 100 times it works a treat I know because I've done it.

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

A really good way to soften the linen on your Kanayama would be to soak it for a few hours in a strong solution of fabric conditioner, then rinse dry off then take a steel ruler now strop that linen with quite some force using the edge of the ruler about 100 times it works a treat I know because I've done it.

I imagine that's the reason the maker suggests a Glass bottle, something strong to break in the fibers. Thanks for the advice!

Originally Posted by prodigy

So do you use an alternate form of linen strop, or just use leather? And why would you never use the kanyama one??

For cloth strops I only use natural linen strops. Neil Miller's or Torolf's for about 6 years now. Prior to that I used very old cotton strops.

I just never felt comfortable using the Kanoyama material even with his cordovan strops dating back to the late 50's.

In my case I have some true linen strops so there is no reason to use anything else really.

I assumed as well that the linen strop of the Kanayama would break in with time as well....hmmmm.

Next week, a Tony Miller strop I recently purchased should arrive and I will compare the two linens then. Funny, I saw, "Miller Strop" in the listing and immediately assumed it was a Neil Miller strop, which was why I bought it thinking of Neil.

Originally Posted by lz6

I have read somewhere that originally this heavy canvas material's primary use was tension control and was simply there to grasp with the leather so it could prevent the user from stretching the the leather while stropping.

I read this and thought, well that kind of makes sense. But I was just stropping before a shave, and the linen is a seperate entity from the leather. So the modern ones definitely have a cloth material designed for use.

Originally Posted by prodigy

I read this and thought, well that kind of makes sense. But I was just stropping before a shave, and the linen is a seperate entity from the leather. So the modern ones definitely have a cloth material designed for use.

Naomi Sans Kanoyama brand cordovan have always had separate pieces. This strop is from the late 50's AFAIK.