Thread: For me, Latigo beats horsehide

Latigo is cowhide but it has beeen treated a bit differently. It various considerably depending on which tannery is making it or if bought directly what the buyer specifies. It is typically impregnated with waxes and/or oils so it tends to act as if it is already "dressed" and requires little care. it tends not to cup or bow as badly and my reason for prefering it is the nicer draw in addition to the non-cupping factor.

Tony

I'm going to say something heretical.

I think all good strops accomplish the same thing: smooth & align the edge.

Horse-is-better and cow-is-better arguments tell us one thing: which 'feel' the user is more comfortable with, and therefore more effective with in his stropping.

Neither is better.

That said, horse is better.

Originally Posted by dylandog

Neither is better.

That said, horse is better.

Hehe. After months of trying, I've just recently learned how to strop effectively. About the same time, I bought one of Tony's 2-inch "Old School" cow/horse strops with D-rings. I love it - I seem to like wide blades, and narrow strops and hones. Maybe it's the horse, or maybe I just finally am getting the hang of this.

The latigo had impressive draw right out of the plastic wrap - similar to the 2.5-inch TM strop I bought six months ago broken in. But the raw speed I get using the plain slick horse is so much fun, I always finish with it, and I get in a LOT of strokes. I'm surprised that horse doesn't smoke!

I'm able to maintain fresh-off-the-hone edges on my favorite razor now. I love the strong draw of the skinny cow to start with, but finishing on that fast skinny horse is more fun for me, honestly. Great feel, sound, and smell.

Im now addicted to both latigo and horse while starting with linen

Linen to Latigo to Horse to face ....

and i hit the linen before putting my razors away till the next use.

Yea yea I know most have heard me brag but my Tony Miller Tri-Strop is my be all end all in the strop dept.

fat boy....how do you like the 2''...i am new to straights and need to buy a strop and was thinking of the 2" TM instead of the 2.5"

Originally Posted by dylandog

I'm going to say something heretical.

I think all good strops accomplish the same thing: smooth & align the edge.

Horse-is-better and cow-is-better arguments tell us one thing: which 'feel' the user is more comfortable with, and therefore more effective with in his stropping.

Neither is better.

That said, horse is better.

For me (and this why I started the thread) I found that not only did I prefer the feel of the latigo, it also was for me much more effective in getting the razor shave ready.

As said above, I had tried to get a newly honed razor shave ready on a canvas and horeshide (buffed, but not a TM), but it never quite "got there". I was thinking I'd have to give ita touch-up on the hones, but then I simply went to the latigo, and the edge rounded into shape quick as could be. I was surprised, as I had spent quite a while on the horsehide prior to that...quite a while. And this was a full hollow razor, which is what the high-slip horsehide is reputed to do best for

Originally Posted by erictski

fat boy....how do you like the 2''...i am new to straights and need to buy a strop and was thinking of the 2" TM instead of the 2.5"

Over time, I have developed a pretty strong X-stroke to my stropping, with the base of the razor spine leading at 45-degree+ angle each way. Even at a 45-degree angle, the length of my average-to-larger razors hang over the edge of the 2" strop. So I start with the heel fairly high on the strop, and not only travel up and down the length of the strop, but across the width of the strop as well, as I slide nearly the full heel-to-toe length of the razor *across* the strop during the stroke. Kind of a "2-for-1" on each stroke. It took some effort to get the hang of this, especially accurate flipping and angle changes.

The draw on the 2" latigo feels even stronger, and the slickness of the horse feels even faster. Whatever it is, I'm getting consistently great edges now, finally. I still like and use my 2.5" strop, especially the linen. It's more forgiving. This stroke would work on any width strop, I just prefer the feel of it on the narrow strop (like a roadster vs. a muscle car).

You could try both, by getting a 2" main strop, and one of Tony's 2.5" practice strops. I'm not very coordinated, and it truthfully took me several months to learn to strop effectively, what might take you hours or days. I have two of Tony's practice strops, both very well nicked and cut up. I just super glue them, sand them, and keep going.

Originally Posted by Wakizashi

Oh, for sure!

I checked the website this morning, and the horsehide components are not available- giving me another week to think about what I want.

Does anyone have a good reason NOT to get the 3-piece?

Adam

I bought the Tri strop with the intention of it as a first step. I chose to order the smooth cotton after for another option.

Tony's products are interchangable with no measurement issues. . I split up my Tri Strop into a Horse/linen and a Latigo/Cotton.

Tony's stuff will not dissapoint. I haven't heard one negative word on his products on this or any other site. Tony =integrity/Top Quality!

MikeB

Go for the original TM Strop
Other designers aspire too his product and design...MB