Thread: Strop Cupping

My strop's edges are higher than the middle. If I look at it straight-on, it looks like it's smiling. I tried rubbing it with a glass bottle (which is perfectly cylindrical) on the front and back to correct this, but it only helped a little.

Is there any method someone can recommend to fix this? All help is greatly appreciated.

Try flexing it so that the stropping surface is on the outside. It might need to be conditioned. What's the brand, and how old is it?

Josh

um, how about simply twist lightly with your hands in the opposite direction? So that in the end it's, more or less, flat again.

Just curious - do you keep it in your bathroom? Does it have a handle and what is the leather?

Cheers
Ivo

Thank you for the responses. I use a Doro extra wide strop. http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/297050.htm

I do not keep it in the bathroom, just outside of it. I did try the twisting. bending in the other direction but now small wrinkles running lengthwise are developing.

Originally Posted by CZAR of NY

Thank you for the responses. I use a Doro extra wide strop. http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/297050.htm

I do not keep it in the bathroom, just outside of it. I did try the twisting. bending in the other direction but now small wrinkles running lengthwise are developing.

That's why I said to do it lightly!

They are just visual, right?
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

That's why I said to do it lightly!

They are just visual, right?
Ivo

I did it as lightly as I could. Yes, the wrinkles are just visual.

Originally Posted by CZAR of NY

I did it as lightly as I could. Yes, the wrinkles are just visual.

No worries whatsoever then! At least - stropping functionality-wise. Or were you troubled by the visual degradation?

I'm sure all stropmeisters will agree that it's much better to have a flat, well-functioning strop than a cupped, visually perfect one. As a matter of fact, Scott (honedright) recently posted a photo of his daily user to show that some minor imperfections (surface cuts / gouges) don't affect performance adversely.

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

No worries whatsoever then! At least - stropping functionality-wise. Or were you troubled by the visual degradation?

I'm sure all stropmeisters will agree that it's much better to have a flat, well-functioning strop than a cupped, visually perfect one. As a matter of fact, Scott (honedright) recently posted a photo of his daily user to show that some minor imperfections (surface cuts / gouges) don't affect performance adversely.

Cheers
Ivo

Thanks Ivo.

Originally Posted by CZAR of NY

Thank you for the responses. I use a Doro extra wide strop. http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/297050.htm

I do not keep it in the bathroom, just outside of it. I did try the twisting. bending in the other direction but now small wrinkles running lengthwise are developing.

I have had the same strop for over a year hanging in the bathroom with no cupping at all.

Cupping is a humidity response from the leather. Edges dry quicker than the centre. I keep my strops in the bathroom on the hook but hang my "in-use"shaving towel over the hook also so it covers the strops. This I found eleviates the problem arrising.
To correct the cupping long term you need to lay flat on a surface, cover with a dish cloth. Rotate the strop every 6-8 hours or so.
The quick way is as pointed out, roll the edges. I would recomend you regular rub the strop with the palm of your hand to oil the strop and at the same time make your hand press more on the edges so in effect cupping the strop in the reverse direction. kill 2 birds with one stone this way. It is a good habit to get into anyway, rubbing your palm over the strop till your hand gets warm prior to stropping. This oils the srop and sets the draw straight off.

PuFF