Thread: My strop has a dip in it... its not true flat...

It is a Bismarck hanging strop and it has a very slight channel just down the center so the edge of the blade doesn't rest soundly against the leather. In other words, when I rest my razors against the strop I am only getting the outer edges of the strop against the blade. I strop in an X pattern, so I figured I was working it out ok, but is this normal? Is this ok?

Is this a manufacturing defect in the strop? Is there a way to correct it?

I have a Tony Miller paddle strop too, which captures the whole edge on every stroke. Should I toss out my Bismarck and just get a TM hanging strop? Should I call Bismarck and talk to them about it?

My Col. Conk strop had the same problem. I rubbed it with the palm of my hand and followed that with an old wine bottle (labels removed) and the curve is gone now. I'm not sure how long I worked on it, but it took a while.

Dave

I wouldn't worry too much about it, it just sounds like your strop needs a little breaking into. How does the surface feel? I used some Fromm leather conditioner on my strop (an Illinois hanging strop) when I first got it. If it already feels pretty supple, just do as Tonsor said and give it a rub with your hands and with a bottle. I read a piece of advice from Lynn saying that giving your strop a rub with your hands everyday is a good way to increase draw, and to work in it to keep it supple.

Just keep at it and I'm sure it'll flatten out!

Dave

maybe you can set it under some bibles to flatten it out.

Originally Posted by Shavelle

maybe you can set it under some bibles to flatten it out.

Or if you prefer, under a few hardbound copies of The Origin of Species.

OK I am an idiot, becasue when I read "My strop has a Dip in it"
I was going answer "pull harder"

Originally Posted by Utopian

Or if you prefer, under a few hardbound copies of The Origin of Species.

Now that is funny,

I once had a Jemico that would have needed divine intervention to get it flat again.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Now that is funny,

I once had a Jemico that would have needed divine intervention to get it flat again.

Tony

Well Darwin wouldve done you no good!