Thread: Kanayama strops difference?

Originally Posted by bobski

1st thing fellas, is that the canvas piece of the Kanayama strops is 65mm wide, or 2.5 inches. The actual cordovan front piece for stropping on is 68mm or 2.67 inches. I stropped today with a Dovo Bismarck, and it was all but covered by the strop width. You may say 3mm isn't much. Check with one of your razors, the canvas piece and how the razor sits on it, then go to the leather, both the suede piece and cordovan are 68mm. It makes a big difference as to the lateral movement of your razor across the leather. Look at it this way. The nani superstones at 70mm cover the razor length fine, so consider 1mm at either end of the razor and thats your difference. Hardly affects my stropping technique at all. Re the odd ball numbers of the Kanayama's at Fendrihans. The 6300 and the 2196, only differ in description by the use of the word 'Coarse'. I received correspondence from Fendrihans overnight re the use of the word, 'Grit' when describing their kanayama strops, ie; #70000 grit strops. They are rectifying any issues by getting comment from the manufacturer, and from all accounts are addressing the matter. All I can offer is that the width of the #10000 at 68mm is the same as the #70000 at 68mm. How wide in actuality the #2196 and #6300 are I'm not aware.

You have not treated your canvas. When I used a mallet on it I found that it became wider and more flexible.

Rami on page 5 of this thread I described the canvas treatment. I didn't re-measure it after the treatment. My point is solely about the dimensions of the leather stropping surface.
For 1, as described on AframesTokyo it is NOT 65mm wide. ONLY the canvas is 65mm.

2. When brand new the leather stropping surface is 68mm or 2.67 inches. At no time is the Cordovan side or the suede piece, anything other than 68mm. After having wet the canvas a number of times it in fact shrank in size, and is an inch shorter than when I started...

My point is solely so that other strop manufacturers who claim to group the Kanayama strops as a 2.5 inch strop. For the record they are not.

Originally Posted by bobski

Rami on page 5 of this thread I described the canvas treatment. I didn't re-measure it after the treatment. My point is solely about the dimensions of the leather stropping surface.
For 1, as described on AframesTokyo it is NOT 65mm wide. ONLY the canvas is 65mm.

2. When brand new the leather stropping surface is 68mm or 2.67 inches. At no time is the Cordovan side or the suede piece, anything other than 68mm. After having wet the canvas a number of times it in fact shrank in size, and is an inch shorter than when I started...

My point is solely so that other strop manufacturers who claim to group the Kanayama strops as a 2.5 inch strop. For the record they are not.

Fair enough. Seems I misunderstood the point.

Last word re Kanayama strops. There are two non-descript offerings by Fendrihan the #2196 and the #6300, both are described as 'coarse' they are two piece strops, and are at the lower end of the scale. Fendrihans offer the #70000 at $235, the #50000 at $195 USD the #30000 at $155 USD and the #80000 at $315
The #10000 available from Aframes at $119. Aframes have no other kanayama strops available at this time. they however claim a price $323 USD for the top of the line #90000. Once again no stock. At JapanNaturalStones, they have no stock other than the #80000 which cost $412.50 USD and the #50000 at $262.50 ( A 2 piece strop)
So the #10000 is a two piece strop, the #20000 also 2 piece (By two piece I mean Strop plus canvas NO suede) the #30000 is a two piece strop, as is the #50000 and the #60000. The #70,#80 and #90 are all 3 piece strops, that include of course the suede piece. They are all two clasp strops, with the canvas being on it's own in a clasp. I know members have owned the '3' Kanayama, and at times have had included in the #30000 a suede piece. Neither of those strops are available now in that format.

Many companies offer low quoted prices. Few have stock to back it up. Most in business know that you cannot predict what a supplier will charge your from order to order. so I hope the above information assists in assessing your stropping needs.
The differences in price are not grit related. Leather has not grit. The costs differences are due to the more robust nature of the leather cordovan piece, in it's measurements of thickness, ie; 3mm 4mm etc. So the #10000 is about 2.5 to 3mm, and the #90000 more of 4.5mm

Sounds reasonable. Only comment I would add is that a few people tried the lower numbers and reported that it was exactly the same in use as the higher ones.

Totally agree, this business of determination of price by the thickness of the leather is a little strange. Sure it's a measure of durability, but at what point is it discernible as it affects the day to day stropping. Gone are the days of Barbers doing 30 shaves a day on their own razors. I reckon my #10000 Kanayama with the addition of the suede piece is the near equal of the #70000. do we now measure our strops with micrometers?
Hell, at the end of the day I like the Kanayama strop to use on my razors, day to day to get a nice shave. That will do me fellas.

Originally Posted by bobski

?
Hell, at the end of the day I like the Kanayama strop to use on my razors, day to day to get a nice shave. That will do me fellas.

That will do me too.

Ok guys so I just received my kanayama 2196 as I stated I was going to purchase it to see what the differences/defects were if any, well there are defects.

First off there are what look like cuts on the back of the strop which were sanded so thin that it affects the stropping side of the leather because it has dips, the leather is nowhere near as smooth or soft as the other kanayama I have it's kinda scratchy actually, the strop itself is so thin you can actually see the stamps on the backside through the leather.

Pic1 full rear

Pic2 close up of sanded area

Pic3 dips in front of strop from sanded area in rear

Pic4 full front

Pic5 front under hanger

I raised the issue of retailers advertising the strops as having a 'grit' rating, as was described by Fendrihan and others eg, #70000 'grit'. Using the word grit in relation to leather was seen and criticized. As mentioned I spoke with via email the management at Fendrihan, who assured me they would enquire with the manufacturer the use of 'Grit' to describe the range of strops, from say #10000 to #90000. They today contacted me and it was confirmed by Kanoyama , that the use of the word 'Grit' to describe any of the Kanayama Strops is incorrect.
Fendrihan have now adjusted their advertising of Kanayama strops, and were happy to clear the matter up, and at no time was it meant to be mis-leading.
They informed that the strops were Cordovan horse leather, the numerical differences are in reference to the thickness of the leather, the thicker being harder to source, and take more time to prepare, thus the price increasing along with the number, ie#30000 cheaper than #80000. I found Fendrihan to have handled the matter fairly, and rapidly. I have no connection to the company whatsoever, I just wanted to take them to task over using 'Grit' as advertising.
Regards Bob

Many products cost more because of thickness and nothing more. Gold filled jewelry costs more the thicker the gold surface. Ever buy kitchen stone counter-tops? The thicker ones cost more. Hones too.