Steve you beat me to it.
Kanayama strop
- Thread starter JPO
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- #22
That might explain things. The white residue might then be some sort of compound. It is absolutely useless to me in this condition. The last thing I need is a pasted strop.
I only did around 20 passes and a good edge turned bad.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
I would return it for a refund if you can.
It’s possible to wash/clean a strop, but it is not an easy process.
It’s possible to wash/clean a strop, but it is not an easy process.
Yes, this seems modified. There is no way a strop from Naomi-san came in this condition. I suspect maybe someone returned it after messing with it and you were sold it after it re-entered stock. With Naomi-san retiring I'm sure anything that could sell was sold and maybe Maksim didn't know about its condition.
Hard to believe the strop was sold with those nicks in it. No way was that strop new and probably does have a compound of some kind on it. I agree, it needs to be returned and if you can a replacement, if nothing else get your money back.
Ah yep that's what I thought (just double checking in case I'd misunderstood!)
FWIW... Mine sounds very different to yours. I bought this from another member here, 'second hand' though in pretty immaculate condition, and I've used a fair bit since then. But to my eye still looks in a much better state than yours.
I'd be tempted to ping Maxim an email. With those nicks on the side it surely can't be a 'new' strop...(?)
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My pal sent me an article about fake Kanayama strops a few years back. I should have kept it…anything that is prized where someone can make a buck will probably be faked somewhere along the way…sadly!
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- #28
That looks much better.
I have had the strop for quite some time now, so going to the vendor to complain, knowing these are not made any more will probably not be the best solution.
How is the draw on your strop? Mine feels like i am stropping on glass.
I have put in an order for a scruple works strop to to see if that is any better.
In the meantime i will try to deep clean my strop and rework the surface to see if i can improve it.
Is there a simple way to do this?
Ah yes, that part of it does sound the same as mine.
It's slowly improving though I think. Also - one time I got some oil on it left on the razor after honing and it made a mark, so I smeared a little bit on my hands and rubbed it into the rest of the strop. That helped a little too, but yep - it's still very hard in comparison to all my others.
More pictures and where/when was this bought, please? As others note... if this IS a real Kanayama, it looks like it was used/resold. That does not look like a clean strop. I've owned mine years and used it dozens of times and it looks nothing like that.
He said earlier in the thread it was JNS.
As per Oli, I would email Maxim and keep in mind that these strops are no longer being made.
This 30k has been used less than gingerly for 10 years, but it looks to be in better shape than yours. I’d second a vote to it being used and returned. 
The coloring of mine is similar, but it is as smooth as silk.
The coloring of mine is similar, but it is as smooth as silk.
It looks like a "restore" to my untrained eye. Most likely with embedded grit from sanding.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
My vote for the problem is the white compound. I’ve sanded many a strop and not had an issue, and Iwasaki recommended periodic sanding (I don’t do this).
I’d probably first try washing it with soap and water, scrubbing it with a good brush and a cotton cloth. Dry it between two boards as Iwasaki recommends, to keep it flat, then rub the surface with a dry cotton cloth to polish it a little.
I’d probably first try washing it with soap and water, scrubbing it with a good brush and a cotton cloth. Dry it between two boards as Iwasaki recommends, to keep it flat, then rub the surface with a dry cotton cloth to polish it a little.
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- #36
I have now sanded the strop with 3000 grit, deep cleaned it with leather cleaner and a boar brush, whiped clean with a wet microfiber.
Leather conditioner/fat is worked in with my palm. I continued working heat into the strop with my palm until it was quite dry. I then spent 15 min stropping a junk razor to work the surface.
The strop feels much better now. Now there is actually some tactile feedback I can live with.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
That looks more like it John, good work!
That came out nice. Good save!
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- #39
Thank you. Hopefully it will improve with use.
It definitely feels quite different.
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