Thread: Problems with a strop. I need help

Hello everyone!
I need some help with a strop as I have some questions.
I've been using a SR for about a month now, and - if I may say so - my usual stropping technique and routine are solid. I'm not trying to get fast at it, I'm just trying to get a constant rhythm and I go by ear, listening to the blade as it goes along the length of the strop.

The strop is 3" wide so I don't have to worry about an X pattern which makes the whole process easier. I also have to say that I always do both arm and hanging hair tests after each stropping just to be sure I'm not screwing things up.

Now, I do have two main questions. First of all, I've heard that is good to strop both before and after shaving, so what I've been doing is after I shave, I strop with the linen side to get the blade dry. At night, before going to bed I strop with the linen side and after with the leather side so the blade is ready for my morning shave. So that's my question... is there a difference if I strop the night before or not really?

And the second one is the tricky one. I bought my strop used, the guy who sold it to me had the leather replaced a couple of weeks before and you could tell as it didn't have almost - practically - no scratches and not a single nick or cut. And I got to see it and feel it before I bought it.

As you can see from the pictures, the leather side is not 100% flat... it has some little waves along the length of the strop and the thing is that they are not at the same "latitude" of the strop. This is my second question, is this a problem? if so, how do I fix it?
By the way, I have to say that since I've got the strop it has always been stored hanging and not bent.

Again, I really appreciate any help or tips on this regard.

Thank you and sorry for the long post.

Cheers.

E.