breaking in kanyama linen strop

I've had my kanyama 90000 for quite some time now, and rarely use it due to its super high quality. I noticed that the linen was very "tight" and created a lot of nose when lapping a razor. I was just on aframestokyo, looking at the used kanyama 60000, and Takeshi San has a list of instructions to properly break in the linen that he received from the maker of kanyama. It's a really long list that involves soaping, hitting with a wooden hammer, lapping with a beer bottle etc. Then it days to repeat the process 3 times. So my question is does anyone else recommend this progression for break in? It does say using it without proper break in can cause damage to the blade, so I'm glad I rarely use it, and found that bit of knowledge. Thanks!

I poked around on aframestokyo as I recall reading somewhere about what you could do if following the regular instructions was not possible due to time constraints etc. and I found it listed in one of the "replacement linen strop" sections:

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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.

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I hope this helps.


Regards

Christian

Yea I read that too. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to doing things the recommended way. I spent a lot of money on it, so if it requires that amount of attention to break in I'll be sure to do it that way, I was just surprised I had never heard it mentioned, granted I didn't go looking for it. I did think it wasn't "good to go" and I just assumed it would break in with use. I guess I'll be buying a bar of soap next time out for groceries.

Don’t know about the linen strop, mine has the suede leather, but I have hand washed a few vintage “cardboard” linen strops, and they work great and are now sparkling white.

So, 1 hour warm water Woolite soak and stiff nylon brush, repeat 2-3 times a good rinse soak and air dry in the sun will works, just fine.

Yea the 80000 and 90000 come as three piece sets, and the linen is a brown color. I doubt I'll do the full recommended treatment, but I'll definitely need to do something. It's hard as a brick brand new, just glad there's been no damage to any of my blades so far. They should include the break in instructions with the thing!

Those strops are not linen.

As I recall one of our members who was exclusively selling them a couple years ago asked the maker and he said he used the best material he could find in Japan but never said what it was.

Well it may not be actual "linen", but it's serving the same purpose. I'm going to throw it in the wash a few times, then go from there if it needs more conditioning.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Those strops are not linen.

As I recall one of our members who was exclusively selling them a couple years ago asked the maker and he said he used the best material he could find in Japan but never said what it was.

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Wonder if it is a linen/canvas made from bamboo? Bamboo Solid Canvas Fabric by the Yard | Mood Fabrics

Bob

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

The member that the thebigspendur spoke of, defined the secondary material as:

"models include a fantastic fabric element, of a very stiff coarse fabric known in Japanese as "Zukku"...it translates as "Fabric/Canvas" but it's unlike any canvas I know. It's coarse, stiff and very good on razors."

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.

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

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Originally Posted by Splashone

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

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You are right.

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

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by Splashone

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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??

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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