Good Morning! I purchased a Kanayama Cordovan Strop 20000 w/linen backing today from Japanese Natural Stones. Size is 600mm 66mm 3mm. The maker of these strops is 80 yo and I wanted to get one before he quit making them. If anyone is familiar with/own this strop? If so, please comment with your opinion, etc. Thank you! Ed
I don't own the 20000. But I do own the 30000, it is my favorite strop, I really like no drag, so this is it, so smooth you almost don't feel like your stropping. Now others like draw, but in the end I believe the big spendur has said many times as long as the leather is of good quality they all do the same thing, so it's all about what draw you like, if it's a very light draw then Kanayama is it. Tc
You cant go wrong with a Kanayama, they are some of the best strops you can get. As Tc said they are fast with little to no draw, simply wonderful to strop on and really brings out and edge.
I would recommend washing the linen/cotton strop a few times and soak in fabric conditioner to break it in as its quite hard.
I bought a Kanayama #3 a few years back. I didn't see much effectiveness in the suede second component, so I had Torolf at Scrupleworks make up a Natural Linen with a leather finished end. Swapped out the suede, and I now consider it a luxury strop ... a very close second to Neil Miller's shell cordovan, which is now retired in Neil's honor.
Actually, I am switching my order from a 20000 to a 50000! The 20000's width is 66mm; the 50000 width is 68mm (closer to 3"). They didn't have any #3's, but they did have 80000's and 90000's in addition to the 20000 & 50000. The higher the number the more $$. The 80000 is 66mm wide, but 3.5mm thick; the 90000 is 68mm and 3.5mm thick. the 20000 & 50000 are both 3mm thick. Didn't see anything wider than 68mm. My other strop is a SRD 3" natural w/a premium linen back and I like the 3" width.
You'll like it a lot! I've had a #3 for quite a while now, and just got a 60000 a couple of weeks ago. The thicker leather of the 60000 is really nice, and the canvas is quite similar to the SRD premium fabric except for the color. Absolutely super strops!
Attachment 226243
Gentlemen,
Kanayama are sweet strops. In the past, I've had the 70000 and 80000. Currently I have the 30000 and the 80000. Since I prefer a mild draw, especially because of the arthritis in my hands, the Kanayama is perfect for me. Also, I love the way the strop's leather hugs the blade. Great stuff.
Hey Obie, thanks for the post! In case you haven't guess, I'm Ed Urbanski, and I had the privilege of meeting you and seeing your wonderful shaving den a couple of weeks ago. I have gotten the "straight razor bug"! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
Yes, of course, Ed, I was delighted to meet you. Welcome to the straight razor world. Once you hone your skill, you'll never look back at any other form of shaving, except maybe for an occasional double edge or single edge razor shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironmaned1987
I'm not making a judgement on anyone's equipment here .. Just a personal observation.
One of the things I like about the #3 is the thin, supple leather. I favor this in all my strops, as I like to vary how taut I pull the strop to how much work I feel the edge needs..
As an aside, I only wanted one strop to use day in and day out. For one reason or another it hasn't worked out that way. I've got more strops than I should have here, in my quest for the Holy Grail, which, as one could guess, still eludes me! I'm very close, but I've come to the conclusion that I should have recognized from the start ... As in glorious Persian rugs, perfection only exists in the hands of God.
Interestingly enough, Druid, I have the 80000 and the 30000 and love both, but the 30000 feels a wee bit better. I really like this strops. These are great strops. I've had a vast variety of strops through the years, including Neil Miller, Bison and Tolorf, but the Kanayama is special.
I have the #3 and the 90000 and the surface is the same on both. The 90K is just longer and wider and thicker and comes with the suede component. Personally I think they are the most perfect strops out there. Currently I'm negotiating to get a Raven Strop so when I get it there will be an epic battle of the strops-har har.
I'd urge caution in using the fabric part. My understanding (and we have discussed this much) is those were selected because it is the best material he can get locally. That strop needs to be broken in before use and that involves a lot of work with washing and pounding. I've never used his fabric as I have a quality true linen strop.
And yes all strops do the exact same thing equally well as long as they are quality pieces.
I assume you're referring to this (or similar):
I'm not advocating that anyone else do what I have done, but after examining the Kanayama canvas component side-by-side against my SRD premium canvas component, I have chosen to forsake the previous instructions and just use the strop. I have used it daily for the past couple of weeks and have seen no ill effects from this usage - either under the microscope or on my face. I have used it on everything from a 5/8 Dubl Duck to an 8/8+ W & B FBU with no problems at all.Quote:
=====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 figure that if any issues do arise, I can hone them out and report on it here. No skin off anyone's back but my own. However, if (as I believe) there continues to be no issues with using this strop, then it will be of some use for the forum to hear about it. Likewise, if it chips my edges down to the base of the bevel it will also be useful to report that here - and I'm not to proud to say when I've made a mistake.
I'll keep you all posted!
sqabxr, do you mean that you are using the canvas component on the Kanayama strop as it came? Obie, do you use the canvas component on your 2 Kanayama strops, without treating them first? This is interesting because I didn't know the canvas component on the Kanayama strops are a problem. Please clarify this for me. Thank you!
My kanayama 3 is my favorite strop. As others have said, it is special.
:tu
Yes, I am using it just as it came from the maker. The break-in procedure I quoted was from "Japanese Chef Knives" in Hawaii, which is where I purchased my strop from. The other vendor that I am aware of is "Japanese Natural Stones" in Denmark, who doesn't mention a thing about needing to perform break-in procedures on the canvas. My choice of vendors was purely based upon inventory in hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironmaned1987
My #3 came with a sued second,, I do use it for my before shave strop, but on most others I use the natural linen I have from Scruplworks, Torolf,s linen is one of the better ones I've used. Tc
Yes, I use the canvas as is. My routine is:Quote:
Originally Posted by ironmaned1987
30 strokes on canvas
30 strokes on felt
90 strokes on leather
Thank you gentlemen for all your comments! They have been very helpful. I have sent several emails to the people at JNS, telling them that I wanted to upgrade my order from the 20000 strop to the 50000 strop. Have not yet heard back from yet, but as sqabxr said JNS is located in Denmark, so their time difference is several hours different (8 hours I think). I will probably get a reply from them tomorrow morning when I get back on the computer. Will keep you all posted as to my success! Good night! Ed
The raven is quite nice. I don't think it's as good as a kanyama though.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Well, different material and quite rare so we'll see.
I have the 90 . The suede is nice for cleaning the edge after a shave .
Don't underestimate the linen either, it's really effective....
My linen was stored for the first year because I'd read negative comments concerning it.
Now it's my favorite part.
If I remember correctly,the first thing i did to it was too wet the leather face .
Also realise the linen has a side with raised edges, so use the opposite.
Don't understand your comment. Please clarify. Thank you! EdQuote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
The Raven is made from Black Horween Cordovan which is very difficult to get and especially in the length featured. Right now there is about a 3 month plus wait if you order from the retailer.
Thank you bigspendur! I went to the website, Imperial Shaving, and it said that it ships within 24 hours and it is $599.99. At that price, I think I will wait, I would rather get a Tony Miller when he has some inventory. Do you know who makes The Raven?Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
BTW, I was able to cancel my order for the Kanayama 20000 and I placed a new order for the Kanayama 50000. Total price from JNS was $166.14, including shipping. Can't wait until it arrives! :tu
The Raven is a nice strop, if that is what one is looking for..
The length, I believe, ups the cost signifigantly. I had Neil Miller make me a strop from shell cordovan, and I asked him for as long as he could make it. It's twenty six inches, A bit short of the 28-30" advertised for the Raven, but not by much, and I could have bought 3 from Neil Miller for the same $600.
But, it is a nice strop, particularly the hardware, but the Horween leather has a different feel than the Kanayama .. not as slick. That is not a good or bad thing .. purely in the eyes of the beholder.
I guess it is what it is ... Undoubtedly a quality product, with a price commensurate.
Thank you for your comment, Druid! I agree with you that quality has its price. I would love to get a Neil Miller strop as well, I saw the one that Obie has, beautiful strop, however I heard that he has passed away and they are very difficult, if not impossible, to find.Quote:
Originally Posted by Druid
Well the kanyama strops come ready to use. They have a perfect finish. The raven is a little more stiff. It needs a lot more break in to get to the level of a kanyama out of the box.
Ironman, don't get strop envy so soon, what you have coming will be as good as it gets,,I have many strops, yet my Kanayama is my go to strop, I love the draw and it really does feel great , blade to leather, you will buy more strops, but you will always go back to that one. Tc
Yes their website says ships in 24 hours however that's for in stock items and those are definitely NOT in stock.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironmaned1987
Keep in mind the price difference for the Raven is the Black material which I am told is what makes it so rare.
You'd have to ask the folks at Imperial who makes the strops for them.
i just went back and re read the description for the one i bought on ebay a while back. Rather than interpret things ill just post what it said.
"Priced to sell is a brand new straight razor strop known to be the rarest and longest piece of shell cordovan, uncharted black shell as it was made from Horween a hundred years ago. The maker knows the owners personally and is the only strop maker able to get this kind of shell. At 30" inches it's he longest that he made at my request he sold me his longest one. I never used it as it is a collection piece unfortunately I now have to fund my new leather craft business. This is sold mark at $600 dollars on his website the imperialshave.com this is a deal!"
So, it would seem the strop maker and the owner of imperial shave have a friendship. All i know is im happy with the $195 i paid for mine :)
What do you mean by wrapping by Nagura? Do you mean rubbing?
