Straightening a crowned Kanayama Suede strop

I just purchased a #80000 Kanayama strop set and the suede component is a bit crowned. Now it's not terrible but it just won't flatten when the razor is applied.

I love this set but the crowning bothers me. (I am working on the stiffness of the linen). I am currently clamping the strop between two boards after rolling with a wax paper covered rolling pin, (I know, you are supposed to use a glass bottle), the strop is covered with newspaper.

Mr. Noami states the way to treat the strop is to use warm water soaked through to the back, but I am sure he only meant that to be for the shell component.

I don't really want to return it just for this, seems silly to worry about it but I don't know if it will get any better.

Thanks for you help, Dave

I recently inquired about replacement leather for my Kanayama and was told that the suede component is available but the shell cordovan leather is not available.

Lay your suede strop lengthwise on a piece of 3 or 4 inch pipe, then cover it with acid free artist paper and tape it to the pipe. Naturally the cupped side of the leather would be on the outside. After a week or two check if it corrected itself.

I'd send it back. At that price the end user shouldn't have to be correcting anything.