Neil Miller, chromexel or bridle

[dmnc]

I'm thinking of buying my first quality strop and as I'm in the UK was looking at Neil Miller's strops. The chromexel and bridle leather the ones I'm looking at. From what I've read on here I'm sure that they are both good, but does anyone have an opinion between the two. I'm just being very indecisive. Help me decide please.

[sharptonn]

Neil's Bridle is hard to beat. I have it in 3 different types. I have not heard of 'chromexel' though?

[Haroldg48]

It was new to me: Chromexcel « Horween Leather Company

Neil's Bridle is hard to beat. I have it in 3 different types. I have not heard of 'chromexel' though?

[sharptonn]

Ah, I see it on Neil's website as well. Interesting!
I also see the snakeskin is back!

Neil will be along....

[markbignosekelly]

With Neils strops you couldn't go wrong with either or, though I've never tried chromexel. I have Neils bridal and cordovan and are both excellent. Tough decision, I prefer a light draw so would be persuaded by that If I had to choose.

[dmnc]

Should probably have written full name, Horween regylar chromexcel. Think what I want is medium draw, but am not sure as my ADs have been confined to R and H so far.

[sharptonn]

I have PM'd Neil. He should be along soon to explain all about it!

[Neil Miller]

I have PM'd Neil. He should be along soon to explain all about it!

Thanks, Tom!

I am not writing this to promote my product, just to explain what it is made for. I have never advertised my wares and I do not intend to now, so be well aware that I am not looking for sales, just passing on a bit of knowledge.

The same leather has found a kind of reputaion on other sites, etc, under the name of Horween oil-tanned steer, etc.

Basically, it is as described on the website. It is a leather that has undergone a chrome salts tannage followed by a full vegetable re-tannage and afterwards it is hot-stuffed with greases, all natural products. The finish is hand-rubbed and the goes through a full 89 separate processes during its making.

Other makers use it as-is from the factory and describe it has having a 'magnetic' draw. I would term this sticky, as left in its original 'for sale' state is is oilier and waxier than the old style latigo that used to used for strops - that however had a lot of adherents, too.

CXL (chromexel) is too sticky for me though, so I put it through another process to remove a good deal of the oils and waxes from it, which transforms the draw to the lower end of mid-draw on a scale using heavy, mid, and light as bench marks. This makes the draw a bit heavier than my English Bridle, which is tanned to order for me and is not as oily and greasy as most english bridle leathers. Next up the scale would be the modern fine-faced, tightly grained 2mm thick latigo, followed by napped cowhide, followed by shell cordovan.

With regards to thickness, CXL is around 2.0 - 2.5mm on average and english bridle around 4.0 - 4.5mm.

CXL is apt to 'bloom' in cold weather and warm weather - the oils and grease migrate to the top. In cold weather you may well see white deposits. However, you simply wipe them away with a clean rag. You may also find a deposit - dark, because the colour comes out a bit too, under the spine of the razor. This may go on for some time, but is simply wiped off with a rag or your fingers.

CXL requires no especial treatment - definitely no conditioning oils or pastes. If the surface becomes loaded, wipe it down using a bit of pressure with a rag, then burnish it again with a clean part of the rag and it will be as new. Hand-rubbing is OK, but with clean dry hands as you don't really want to add any hand oils or grease to the stropping surface.

Regards,
neil

[PhatMan]

dmnc,

Get both

Mr. Miller's strops are simply superb.

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

[dmnc]

Thank you Neil for that extra information. Am leaning towards the chromexcel I think. As am still learning that little bit more draw would probably be good. Please correct me if I'm wrong anybody, that lighter draw is bit more difficult for the less experienced. Also I generally have rather dry hands, handrubbing my strop doesn't seem to add any grease to it.

Again thanks to Neil and everyone else for your replies.