Thread: Kanayama Cordovan Strop 90000 - Not the quality it used to be

Remove the strop from the clamp and lay it flat on like a counter top and then take a warm damp cotton cloth and wipe not rub in either an upward or downward direction and keep doing this while keeping the cotton cloth damp and when the strop is damp completely thru flip it over and lay a flat board on it and add some weight and let it sit over night, you may have to do this a few times but it should fix the problem.

After it’s dry clamp it back in the hardware but don’t overly tighten and then with a cupped hand just give it some good rubs everytime you pass by it, cupping hand will slowly force the leather to get a crown that will flatten when using

Maybe I'm wrong but as I remember he doesn't recommend any water to be used on his strops except for a damp cloth to clean surface dust off.

He also said they never need oil but this has been debated

I oiled one of mine and it only made it darker. The oil did not degrade its performance

Thanks for all the feedback, despite it having severe issues, I think about 80% of the stropping surface will turn out alright eventually, I hope.

manipulating it seems to work very well with these strops, they're extremely supple and that's what's so amazing about these strops. The cupping might be worked out like this.

The surface itself is my major concern, with careful scraping the rougher parts are starting to slowly become smoother. I think I'll just rub it daily and strop with some spare razors on it for a while, I think the combination will do nicely for the strop. We'll see how it turn out and functions in a few weeks and months!

I have successfully ironed my Kanayama strop. Slightly damp teatowel between iron and strop. Try on the bit that lives under the clamp before doing the entire strop.
I have ironed my Kanayama and Tony Miller strops successfully, only my Dovo strop, the one with leather sewn to canvas, did not like it.

These strops can take some abuse. I believe shell cordovan will not show crease marks if you ever wanna bend it or roll it up.

My memory is lacking but instructions say that you can use a wet towel to add water to the strop but stop before the discoloration reaches the back.. I think that might be related to cleaning it..
I have done that and i have used Leatherique to remove the metal from the strop . It is a product for restoring old leather car seats where you saturate the leather with one product over a few days and then use another product to remove the filth..

My 90000 is super soft and slick but shows some swarf..I did recently buy a spare one to store in my cupboard forever, i think i will check on it after reading this thread.

Here is strop care from Kanayama

*************Cleaning and maintenance Kanoyama Cordovan Razor Strop:

What we should do is to use clean cotton towel soaking in lukewarm water, and it should be not too much wet, but not too dry the towel. And then, we wipe the strop the front side of the strop until little before the lukewarm water going through all the way to the back side, and then it makes dry naturally. That is the way what we make the strop making shinny and smoother. According to Mr. Naomi, we should not apply on any oil on Cordovan strop. The oil collects dust, and it makes losing smoothness on the Cordovan strop, and it makes not as the finishing quality strop anymore. ****************

******PLEASE DO NOT USE THE CANVAS STROP WITHOUT ANY TREAT TO BE SOFTER******

The new canvas strop is very tough and hard cloth, so it might get damage to your razor blade. 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.

Originally Posted by JOB15

I did recently buy a spare one to store in my cupboard forever, i think i will check on it after reading this thread.

Let me know how your strop turns out, I'm very curious to hear how you like it and how it compares to your older 90000.

I haven't heard anything back from the vendor I bought it at, but this is certainly not the quality of old, far from it.

I do remember another highly reputable vendor that used to carry these strops that stopped selling and carrying them because the quality had declined compared to the older days, based on my experience this vendor made the absolute right decision.

My old Kanayama feels like a dream to strop on, this one feels like I'm honing on plastic.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

Let me know how your strop turns out, I'm very curious to hear how you like it and how it compares to your older 90000.

I haven't heard anything back from the vendor I bought it at, but this is certainly not the quality of old, far from it.

I do remember another highly reputable vendor that used to carry these strops that stopped selling and carrying them because the quality had declined compared to the older days, based on my experience this vendor made the absolute right decision.

My old Kanayama feels like a dream to strop on, this one feels like I'm honing on plastic.

You can see my two side by side..
My new one is not cupped , nice and flat , it has no wax on the surface , completely dry with a light sheen..
I bought both mine from Afames Tokyo...

Originally Posted by JOB15

You can see my two side by side..
My new one is not cupped , nice and flat , it has no wax on the surface , completely dry with a light sheen..
I bought both mine from Afames Tokyo...

Thank you very much for letting me know,
that sounds perfect and is it should be.

Btw, how does the thickness of the suede strop compares to the cordovan?
The thickness being the major reason I ordered a 90000, but mine is certainly not as thick and at some parts only about half as thick.

The suede strop otoh is a superb strop.

In pictures I see online from the store you mentioned, they are about the same thickness with the 90K looking nicely thick.