Thread: Conditioning A Red Latigo Strop

You bet!

Red Latigo is excellent and really has a lot more draw than many other strops. It is however a leather treated with oils and waxes. They are ready to rock from the start, but really just get better as you continue to rub your palm on them. I like to use a little neatsfoot oil at first and just keep rubbing from there. Once you get past the oils and waxes, you have a great strop that should last you a lifetime.

Lynn

A loss of draw compared to when new has no bearing on it needing conditioning imo. Latigo when it breaks in will lose the heavy surface coating which give heavy draw and you will then be left with a good draw but not so sticky if thats the right way to explain it.
I have a very old Latigo horse tack leather that is now seemingly oil free but supper supple just from massaging and rubbing and use. Draw on this old Latigo is excellent and no way compromised by the lack of conditioning.
Tony's Latigo I bought some time ago is nearing the same stage on its own and I dressed another of his Latigo strops to be the same as my old one with no problem.
Latigo is so heavily oiled and waxed that I can see no point in conditioning the leather unless it is becoming hard/stiff .

PuFF

I don't know about conditioning as I am talking about minimal neatsfoot oil and the main purpose for me is that it helps in rubbing down the layer of oil and waxes a little quicker. What is actually kind of cool is to compare this with the Black and Red Latigo's.

Lynn

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

A loss of draw compared to when new has no bearing on it needing conditioning imo. Latigo when it breaks in will lose the heavy surface coating which give heavy draw and you will then be left with a good draw but not so sticky if thats the right way to explain it.
I have a very old Latigo horse tack leather that is now seemingly oil free but supper supple just from massaging and rubbing and use. Draw on this old Latigo is excellent and no way compromised by the lack of conditioning.
Tony's Latigo I bought some time ago is nearing the same stage on its own and I dressed another of his Latigo strops to be the same as my old one with no problem.
Latigo is so heavily oiled and waxed that I can see no point in conditioning the leather unless it is becoming hard/stiff .

PuFF

Originally Posted by Lynn

I don't know about conditioning as I am talking about minimal neatsfoot oil and the main purpose for me is that it helps in rubbing down the layer of oil and waxes a little quicker. What is actually kind of cool is to compare this with the Black and Red Latigo's.

Lynn

Are the black and red latigo's different in performance? I thought it was just dyed differently.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

Are the black and red latigo's different in performance? I thought it was just dyed differently.

Actually, to me the Black is a little stiffer and takes a little longer to break in, but once there, you get that killer Latigo draw. Do get a lot more dye on the palm at first when hand rubbing, but it does stop after a short while.

Lynn