Thread: Curling strop

Hi all.
I have a new Dovo strop which has been working very well for me. This morning I noticed that the edges are curling in about halfway up the strop, leaving me with half the length of the strop to use. Any suggestions as to why this is happening, and what I can do to remedy it? I have some yellow paste I bought in London from one of the razor suppliers there, but I'm now in Canada and can't np down the road for their advice...!
On a side note, does anyone know if Rasage Poulin is still offering honing services as my backup straight could do with some attention?
Thanks!

NN, Hello!

In the Pacific NorthWet, we've been having a small heat wave. I noticed that at least 2 of my strops were curling up at the edges (cupping). Barring some other large input like applying pastes or something for the first time (mine are just clean leather), I have to assume large weather changes can be all it takes to make the change.

I took my leather components, treated the back sides with leather conditioner for a couple applications, and when reassembled, did alot of rubbing before using w/ a blade. They seem like they're back to normal.

Sounds like the early stages of cupping.

There are numerous posts on this. I'm not sure what you can do other than rolling something on it like a rolling pin or bottle or hang weights from it. Maybe it will go away by itself if it's weather related.

I did alot of palm rubbing and I hung my strop in my linen closet instead of the bathroom. It's good now

Definitely cupping. Not the end of the world though, thankfully! Using your hand to gently bend back the edges prior to use will help. The trouble with leather is that it comes from animals - they are curved instead of flat, and often the leather tries to revert back to its original shape. Like others have pointed out, humidity often plays a part - if the leather starts to dry out, it will do so from the edges quicker than at the sides, so it is prone to cup or curl. Keeping the interior humidity level constant helps, but may require light oiling or saddle-soaping, both of which will probably alter the draw.

Regards,
Neil

+1 on the above advice, good stuff, sometimes if it's bad cupping can be cured by pressing the strop between to flat boards for a day or 2 if needed.
Older strops have problems all their own. I have an older "New England" strop right now that is showing signs of haveing a "Nap", what I mean is, when stropping thier is a nap of some kind that the razor push's one way then back another way, and the razor needs wiped down as the blade has some "Stuff" that comes off the strop.
My assumption is some one put WAY to much strop dressing on it and soaked it good, Now I have to rub if down with alcohol let it try, 'not to much alcohol" and sand it down with may be 3 to 4 grits of sand paper and see were I am at that point.
Yes, I love older strops as well as some of the newer ones, but they do come with some Bagage!!
[just like people]

Me again, tinkersd