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https://www.fendrihan.com/products/k...ng-razor-strop
I have a red latigo, an Illinois 361, SRD English Bridle. The Kanayama 80000 was just out of reach, till it wasn’t. Wife said, go ahead. Aframestokyo was out of stock. Thought I was going to have settle for something else, but found it at Fendrihan’s. I’m as excited about this as my first Wade & Butcher blade. I’ve read every thread with “Kanayama” in the title. I’m open to any suggestions.
My suggestion for anyone who gets bit by the Kanayama bug is to buy the Kanayama 3. Yes, it's a lower number but the quality of the leather is the same and the price is significantly lower. I paid $100 for mine.
Yes, #3 is a pretty good piece I hear. I have the 60K and 70K and I'm very pleased. Takeshi actually talked me out of 80K, saying the leather is very thick, and thicker doesn't always mean better. I find 60K, at around 1/8" thick to be the perfect strop, with the right balance of thickness VS flex. My 70K is just slightly thicker, maybe by 1mm (but this is not a rule, these are just my specimens). With that said, I look forward to your thoughts on the 80K. I probably won't buy it myself, the two I got are more than enough.
I have had pretty much all the strops that Kanayama makes and you sold all but my older 30k that does not have the gold etching at the bottom and it’s a pleasure to strop on, heck I even use the cotton, no suede piece with mine though
I really enjoy my 80K with suede, and I hope you do too. Smooth as butter.
I have been enjoying my 30k kanayama very much. Wasn't biggest fan for first day or two but then it quickly became favorite. I like the suede as well,I use it when cleaning razor edge after a shave
Congrats! Love mine.
Don't put any goop on it.
Cheers, Steve
Thanks. I read that in the threads. Palm rubbing only. So excited!Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve56
Just use it. And clean it with a damp cloth now and then. They feel so much different than other strops. I love my 70k. Might pick up a 30k some day. Without a handle on the bottom you need to learn to hold it but thats not an issue. Just different.
My Illinois 361 has a barber’s end, but I’ve only been pinching it. While reading the threads on the Kanayama I learned about the various grips. Thanks Gasman.
To me the Kanayama is strop that all others are judged by.
The sickness of the Cordovan and velvet draw of the napped horsehide secondary is perfect.
As said a wipe down with a clean damp towel and a good hand rubbing is all that is needed for many moons.
Enjoy in good health.
The master Naomi San
Attachment 288370
I have the #3 and the 90K and though the 90K is thicker and longer and has the suede component the two strops are exactly the same as far as the leather quality goes. They both do the same job equally well.
It's just that the 90K is more...err...luxurious.
I have the #3 and the 80k. As Utopian and thebigspendur have pointed out there is no need for sorrow or disappointment for anybody that can't or won't shell out for the thicker strops. The #3 is really good bang for the buck. I can't remember when I last used one of my non-Kanayama strops. I agree with markbignosekelly that Kanayama's are the standard all other strops are judged by.
I have sold all but 5 strops, I have a Westholme cordovan, Tony Miller Spanish Bridle, Kanayama 30, Scrupleworks Oil Tanned and a paddle from Rasurpur, the paddle gets used the least and the rest just get used, I honestly cannot tell a difference in a razor stropped on a Kanayama versus a Spanish Bridle except for the draw.
You will truly love your Kanayama 80000. It is a magnificent strop. I most strongly encourage to only rub with your hand to warm it before using it to strop. Go slow when you strop on it. And enjoy this beautiful piece of shaving equipment. It will serve you well for your lifetime.
I'm looking to invest in a new strop and listening to everyone here I thought it should be a Kenayama. I did a little research and found out that they don't come with handles. I'm wondering if that will be a difficult transition
I had the same thought. I found the transition pretty easy. I now prefer strops without handles.Quote:
Originally Posted by alschepis
Thanks. Can you tell me why you now prefer strops without handles?
None of my strops have handles. I have one with a D-ring. I prefer the barber style strop - I think I can control the tension over the length of the stropping region better than if there was a handle.
Similarly to what David says above it just feels like I have better control over the strop in all dimensions. Tension along the length and any subtle side to side adjustments work better for me with the direct connection of the strop in my hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by alschepis
I agree with Lazarus, it is much easier to control the tension and get immediate feed back by directly touching the leather with my hand.
Mine are all barber-ends too. Another thing is that traditional ends usually shorten the stropping surface. A 24" barber end has 24" of leather, not that you can use it all. A strop with a traditional handle may be 24" minus the handle length, so say 18-19" of surface.
You shouldn't have any issues with a barber end.
Cheers, Steve
I have both a 50K and 80K Kanayama, and they are magnificent.
The 80K-you're going to be very pleased, I think. It's smooth, and just a complete joy to use. I thought the lack of handles would be a drawback, but it's not, very intuitive no matter what grip I use.
Please let us know what you think of it when you've had some time to strop with it.
