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kanayama strop.....the next

tat2Ralfy said:
My dear friend, am I right in thinking you got the 80000? And it's the one with 2 leather components? If so I would be very interested to see how you find the soft (middle?) leather

Best regards
Ralfson (Dr)
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I'll fill you in on that, once I have fully tested the strop as a system. It's a nice stropping surface, that's for sure. Personally, I've never believed in a multi-strop setup, and I've never been able to find different end results between functional strops. It either functions or not. I immediately noticed that the Kanayama (I am now talking about the main leather) seeks the edge very well. It has that in common with the Old Traditional, while a Dovo Russian does that far less.
With edge "seeking", I mean that the strop seems to grab the edge and keeps it adhered to its surface with a kind of gentle suction. The intermediate leather (yes, it's the 80000) doesn't do this. It demands a bit more attention to keep the razor in good contact. (Note that these properties might change, once the strop has seen some good use). The intermediate leather has a suede surface, and I can imagine it would be perfect for application of a paste. I'm not into that, but someone who wasn't into hones, could probably keep a razor going for over a year on just a Kanayama strop with a bit of Thiers Issards' white on the suede leather. (putting green Chromium Oxide on it would work well, but seems almost like painting a pair of expensive shoes green, so I'd go for the Thiers Issards)
But of course, I won't put anything on it, and try to find out if the suede leather has any "linen" capacities. I'll also put it in between the Kanayama linen and the leather and compare it with results when left out. But as said, I don't really expect differences in that department.

You can drive to Paris in a small French car or in an luxurious German one of 10 times the price. Both will get you there just fine. I think similar statements can be made about strops, the Kanayama being one of the pinnacles on todays market. And as it often is with these kind of high class products, they have their own particular character.

Kind regards,
Bart.
 
Hi Bart,

Glad to see you are getting good results! Just a mention about sizing. All yarns are sized before weaving/knitting with, usually, some type of starch. Weak, water based glues are also used. While a soak will certainly remove some of this, a washing is usually needed to remove it completely.

If you decide to bathe the linen, I would suggest adding a little soap to the mix as fabric softener by itself has little cleaning action. Dish washing soap has excellent wetting properties on textiles. Due to the thickness and tightness of this weave, I would also agitate a good bit both in the wash and in the rinse (I have used hand grips like you describe, cigarette rolling motions...). I used just soap on a 2" version of this linen and would say got at least a 50% improvement in suppleness (something almost like you describe with draping it over your finger). :)

regards,
Torolf
 
Thank you Torolf. If I decide to go for additional treatment, I might just put it in the washing machine first, and run a wool program. I would probably apply the laundry softener separately without much rinsing, as I understand that these softening agents are based on lubricating the fibers. I can easily wash it again should it not turn out well.

But first I'm going to see what happens if I repeat the mechanical treatment a couple of days. I really enjoy this fabric in its supplest state.

Have a nice day,
Bart.
 
I've worked the linen as you said. Now it's defanatley took the stifness away.Also felt softer to strop on. still needs some more working in. The leather does have a magnetic feel while stropping. the two leathers are nice . the suede section feels great. I never found much differance in using both.

other than that the cordaven is my every day strop, as i just like the feel . its like the razor moulds to the strop and fits perfectly.

gary
 
Well after reading Bart's post, I'll definitely have to do a bit of "breaking in" with my Kanayama linen. I didn't think it could get decent so I never really bothered. A video of your routine would be great Bart! So in your opinion, the strop is capable of providing very reasonable edge improvement?
 
jfdupuis said:
Well after reading Bart's post, I'll definitely have to do a bit of "breaking in" with my Kanayama linen. I didn't think it could get decent so I never really bothered. A video of your routine would be great Bart! So in your opinion, the strop is capable of providing very reasonable edge improvement?
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When supple enough, The Kanayama linen is as good as any good linen.
I'll see what I can do about that video.

Kind regards,
Brat.
 
Bart said:
emmanuel said:
Bart i am sure that the oiled strop effectives the hht test.I dont believe that change the keednes and the save quality.
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If you mean that the oiled strop affects the HHT, then we agree.:)
If you means that the oiled strop makes the HHT more effective, then I'm afraid we disagree. :rolleyes:

But in any case, we agree that it doesn't affect the keenness and the shave quality.

Amicalement,
Bart.
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Yes i mean Bart that the oiled strop effects negatively the hht .Like the wet blade directly from the hone effects negatively the hht too.
Best regards
Emmanuel
 
My, what long arms you have, Sir Bart!
:D

Thanks for the video. I guess I should actually start using Kanayama linen.
 
well tried your method on mine and it certainly helps. I put it back on with the leather component and gave a razor a few passes on it. It's still not as effective as my beat up 2 inch webbed fabric one, but it's a big jump in performance. I will do more stretching with it.

thanks again!
 
After softening the K linen i have to say it does feel better by far. So i took my ti and gave it 60 laps on my La vainette coticule. I then stropped on k linen 60 times. there was clear improve mant in HHT. I then did 60 laps on Tony miller linen. I used the same hair ,the HHT was by far improved. two total differant results. even though the K linen is better its still not for me . Just not my cup of tea as we say. so it will be staying under my bed from now on. I also use the dovo linen i like them both.

regards gary
 
Bart are you currantly using the whole set up . Including your linen . I must say the linen feels much better. I've decided to use the linen no matter what . I'm going to use it for at least a month .See how it goes from then on.

cheers gary
 
Dear mates.
I tried everything ,and what he did Bart, and washed in addition the K strop in the washing machine adding softener. Even the strop softened significantly and seems as like all others,
the effectivity has not changed .I can say that imroves the HHT one degree.My replaced
pure linen woven in V weaving and fine (1,5 to 2 mm thick) 1)has a good sense ,feeling very soft
2)the blade touches everywhere across the linen 3)The sound is very discreet and sweet and 4)
improves the HHT so much that the the leather is option. Honestly i dont like to reduse or promote the tradeability some material but i am feelling that i am with you to work so as to improve the comfort and satisfaction in what we call straigt rasor shave.Posted pfoto indicate
my pure linen.
Your Friend
Emmanuel

5380153059_cb874b8790_z.jpg
 
garyhaywood said:
Bart are you currantly using the whole set up . Including your linen . I must say the linen feels much better. I've decided to use the linen no matter what . I'm going to use it for at least a month .See how it goes from then on.

cheers gary
Click to expand...

Yesterday, I performed my final test shave for the OTB-experiment. For that, I used my trusted stropping gear, as that was what I used for the other 2 test shaves. (still need to post about the results). After that, I've put away my usual gear, and now I will use the Kanayama for at least a month, just to allow it to reach its peak performance. There is no strop that doesn't benefit from a bit of "breaking in", though the Kanayama seems already functional as it is now. I might be tempted to put the linen in the washing machine and soak it in laundry softener, because I believe that the softer I can get it, the more I will love it. I also plan on trying to either skip the linen or skip the suede leather, for srtropping freshly honed razors. I wonder about there interchangeability of both components.

My last concern is to compare particular parts of the Kanayama directly to other straps of other materials. I believe a strop needs to be considered a system of which the components need to work together to provide the desired results. How other set-ups achieve that is hardly relevant in this thread, that deals about getting the best out of the Kanayama strop. Buying replacement parts would be the last thing I would advice, as that would mean that the Kanayma failed. It is already clear to me that this is certainly not the case. My Kanayama performs very well already. It's just that I think I can make the experience of using the linen an even more agreeable one, by softening it any further.
Emmanuel, I don't think the standard advice to Kanayala owners should be to replace the fabric strop. I know that's what you did, and I don't doubt your replacement performs admirably. It resembles my Tony Miller linen. Yet, personally I don't like forum threads in which someone ask about how he can optimize his use of a product, receives as an answer to use something else.

Kind regards,
Bart.
 
Bart said:
(Did I ever say that I find the joy of stropping one of the important aspects of the whole process?:) )
Click to expand...

It's my favorite part. :)

Bart I actually softened mine up a bit when I first got it. I did it in a way similar to the one in your video but instead much more gentler and just using my hands, not a table. I didn't see as good results as you got, and didn't have the balls to take it further, but I'll try it now. Thanks

Justin

P.S. Isn't the leather just orgasmic?! I love it.
 
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