Thread: Strop Cupping

Originally Posted by Lynn

I would try to fix what you have if possible before you buy anything else.

Have fun,

Lynn

I plan on using this one as a practice strop before moving up to something better. Then I'll use this one as a second, pasted strop or possibly pay it forward.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Latigo tends not to cup as much as other leathers as it is less affected by humidity, etc...

Latigo and some other leather respond well to just pinching them near the top a bit to force a bow instead of a cup into them then running the hand slowing down the strop a few times. These usually coaxes a cup into a slight crown which will easily flatten when in use.

In my experience the bottle trick never seems to work well. In most cases unless a material is flexed beyond the shape required it usually spring back a little and will not hold that shape. Rolling or ironing a cupped shape flat will help a bit but bending it beyond that point will allow it to spring back to a flatter condition.

Of course your mileage may vary !

Tony

Since I have a shave ready straight razor on the way. I take it I should not use this strop until I get it squared away? If that's the case I'll just purchase a new strop. I really only want to use this one as a practice strop anyway.

I had the exact same issue with a dovo strop, it was a red russian, and was cupped even when I tried to force it on flat surface. I tried the rolling pin,the bottle trick, even tried hanging it with weight on the end nothing worked, what I ended up doing was first applying neatsfoot oil to my hands (very thin coat) and then rubbing it into the strop (both sides), I then gently (very gently) took it with my fingers on each side and rolled it back and forth between my fingers (dont squeeze too tight or the leather will wrinkle), almost like I was rolling a cigarette. after about 15 minutes of rolling it, I laid it on the counter and it was flat.

I always supected that the vendor (outside of this forum) I bought it from had it stored in warehouse somewhere where it dried out too much, shortly afterwards I bought a Tony Miller strop, and slapped myself for wasting money on the dovo (and another cheap strop I had bought) when I could have just bought a quality one to begin with, Tony also has the option to add a practice strop so you dont make mistakes on your "Good" one. I cant comment on the SRD strops since i dont own one, but all the reviews say they are great as well, and with AD Kickin my butt, I think I hear that 3" premium calling my name...

Dont sacrifice the Dovo to being a pasted strop. These strops are as good as any out there imo. Cupping can be corrected without oils lotions etc by just massaging the leather between the fingers and as Tony says, by pinching the strop at the top till convex then maintaining that position with the fingers, you drag them down the strop. reapeat this a few times till it holds the convex shape. Give the leather another kneeding then buff the surface with the palm of your hand till a sheen becomes evident.
This buffing should be done prior to every use on any strop to warm the leather and pass on the natural oils from the hand to the strop. Draw will be increased the natural way like this without the need for this fashion for mink and neatsfoot oil.

Good luck to you

PuFF

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

Dont sacrifice the Dovo to being a pasted strop. These strops are as good as any out there imo. Cupping can be corrected without oils lotions etc by just massaging the leather between the fingers and as Tony says, by pinching the strop at the top till convex then maintaining that position with the fingers, you drag them down the strop. reapeat this a few times till it holds the convex shape. Give the leather another kneeding then buff the surface with the palm of your hand till a sheen becomes evident.
This buffing should be done prior to every use on any strop to warm the leather and pass on the natural oils from the hand to the strop. Draw will be increased the natural way like this without the need for this fashion for mink and neatsfoot oil.

Good luck to you

PuFF

I tried what you said, my friend, and it worked perfectly. And it worked quickly. I've been buffing the surface with the palm of my hand daily as you suggested and it's there, flat and with a good draw to it.

I didn't get around to trying the bottle idea, since I could do with without taking the stop down. So I don't know.

this idea worked like a charm.

Thanks a million

Alls well that ends well
I really like the Dovo leather as I said and to resign it to a pasted strop imo is a sad end for such a good leather. All strops repay well with a good massage and a buff so just keep at it as a routine intro to stropping and it won't let you down. p.s. Make sure your hands are clean before you buff the strop and add some extra zap by rubbing your hands through your hair for a bit (clean hair )

PuFF