Thread: Got my linnen wet

So I got a very small amount of water on my linnen and it left a lump. I was wondering how I can get that to go away? Also would this effect my stropping? It seems like this could. I have tried rubbing the lump out on a corner of the wall. Also I tried to kind of pound it out. No avail.

Use an iron?

I don't think that has ever happened to me... Funny, I never even thought it would swell like that..

What kind of linen strip is it?
actual linen or a synthetic one?

I just looked it up and I am mistaken. It's wool felt not linen.

This is an interesting conundrum. I'm sure this has happened many times to many users. After all, don't most wet-shavers keep their strops in the bathroom (although I confess to keeping mine in the basement)?
Not sure that ironing it would be the best course of action -- wouldn't it mitigate the effectiveness of the linen strop as a whole?
What about flipping the strop over and using the "non-bump" side? I realize the indentation would still be there (concavity v. convexity), but might it be better that continually running a razor over a speed bump? Just my $.02.

I had this happen in the past. I took two 2x4's and clamped them tight with it in the middle over night and it took care if it.

You can iron that down using a steam setting or a light spray of water. You may have to clamp as str8shooter has done, but the iron might take care of it for you in a matter of minutes. Keep the moisture limited during the process, but you do need some to soften the fibres again, to get them to sit flat.


Mick

I'm not sure I'd hot iron wool, as you might actually shrink it or otherwise damage it. I'd go with the clamping solution, it sounds the safest. There's no need to rush anything.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

After all, don't most wet-shavers keep their strops in the bathroom (although I confess to keeping mine in the basement)?

I deliberately do not keep my strops in the bathroom because I have his gut feeling (confirmed by professional advice) that continual exposure to moist circumstances, with heat spikes such as you're likely to have in a bathroom can seriously damage a leather strop. Like I wouldn't dip my strops in hot water for five minutes every day, either.