Latigo

[BakerAndBadger]

Hi,
Thought I'd share this picture with you guys. I was looking for a source for latigo and found this, now it really is a piece of latigo but looks more like a big pink pig to me!

this is the website address just so that you know I'm not joking. http://eleathersupply.com/latigo.shtml

I've nothing else interesting to share so hope you enjoyed it!

 

[Lexbomb]

That does look like a cute little pig doesn't it. I would love to make my own strop but I lack the time and knowledge

 

[kirk 988]

it does how much was the leather?

 

[BakerAndBadger]

No idea how much it was, I was idley browsing during my lunch hour and it made me smile!

 

[Tony Miller]

I've seen that photo many times and never saw the pig. Now it stands out immediately. pretty cool.

BTW, the side from eLeather is $209.95

Tony

 

[Kentos]

Tony, what percent of that would you have been willing to cut into strops?

 

[Tony Miller]

Kent,

It can vary greatly. I have had very occasionally really nice smooth hides that have yielded 24 strop bodies but more often 10 to 15 with some of the hide only good for end caps. Some hides have only been good for caps and handles and a few have been unsuitable and had to be returned. Leather can vary so much it is hard to give any true yield. Hopefully the only flaws will be fat wrinkles near the shoulder and part of this area can be caps and random raised scars you can cut around. Some hides though have been rolled too tightly, skin side in and the entire surface is finely wrinkled and not usable at all for me on production strops but might be good for the practice strops.

Divied the $210 plus maybe $15-$20 shipping by 10 to 15 pieces and each leather body alone is $10-$12 without any labor added to cut, edge, punch, break inn, etc......

Now, that said I am talking perfect pieces only. Much of the hide can still be very usable but may exhibit small scars, etc.... that are fine for use but not suitable for a $65 to $80 strop. Like anything the final price point determines just how good an item needs to look. This is the real difference in a $30 strop and an $80 strop along with how much detail work is done. At $30 they need to (and will) work fine, at $80 they need to work fine and look flawless with lots of detail work evident. There is a market for both. Not everyone can afford or needs an $80 strop and it is great that there are those who will supply that market and get people into this hobby that may not otherwise try it. The less expensive strops get good reviews, will do the job and do very much fill a need in the marketplace.

Tony

 

[Kentos]

Thanks Tony! I was just wondering as I remember you moving away from Latigo for that fact, even though you were the first to use Latigo for strops. Throw in the large variance in draw on the Latigo hide to hide and I can understand why now.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Thanks for the info Tony, it's great to have an expert give his take on this. I guess I'll shelve the make-a-strop idea for the mean time.

 

[Tony Miller]

Kent,

Latigo is a fine material for strops if you can get hides that have not been tanned with too much wax. Each tannery, each batch will vary in how it is produced and how it feels. Latigo, Bridle, etc.... will feel different depending on where it is tanned and even from one run to the next. For the real intended purpose of latigo, horse gear, waxier is actually better as it resists moisture from rain, dew and horse sweat. For strops though, waxier is not so good and a more oily or dryer tannage, vs. waxy, would be better.

Another comment on the quality of leather is to watch the video of a Kanayama strop being made. Look at how much work goes into making a piece of regualr horsehide into a perfect surface and draw. He spends hours on each strop which accounts for the price of a Kanayama. Yes they are expensive but you can see how much time goes into one. One can either search for perfect leather or take the time to make perfect leather.

Tony

 

[ouch]

I have a TM latigo that's just under two years old. For the longest time, I considered it virtually useless and even considered doing the unthinkable- letting it go. After a full year it was still nowhere near what I would consider 'broken in', although it was slowly beginning to come around. Even so, every time I would use his marvelous-out-of-the-box Notovan or his silky smooth horsehide, I would be reminded how far the latigo still had to go. Now, it is only first beginning to shine, even though it seems to prefer heavier razors such as a TI Le Grelot. I have no doubt that it will continue to improve for many, many years and will ultimately become my favorite.

I also have a six year old latigo that's like butta.

 

[Kentos]

I treasure my Latigo TMs too

 

[paco664]

piggie!!!!

 

[JonM]

On the topic of inexpensive "starter" strops, The Star Shaving "Big Daddy" is available in black latigo leather. Does anyone have experience with this particular model? If so, does it have the waxy properties that Tony mentioned?

 

[paco664]

On the topic of inexpensive "starter" strops, The Star Shaving "Big Daddy" is available in black latigo leather. Does anyone have experience with this particular model? If so, does it have the waxy properties that Tony mentioned?

i have 2 big daddy's... but they are the brown ones... they are well made and the hardware is stainless steel....

i dunno if you would call it "waxy"... but it has a very nice draw.... one of my "go to" strops....

 

[cb91710]

On the topic of inexpensive "starter" strops, The Star Shaving "Big Daddy" is available in black latigo leather. Does anyone have experience with this particular model? If so, does it have the waxy properties that Tony mentioned?

Someone posted yesterday that the black ones are intended for kitchen knives.
Not sure if that's accurate or what the difference really is.

 

[JonM]

Thanks, guys. I had the $15 Star Shaving back on my 1st trial with straights (I still regret selling it). I can definitely vouch for their quality. I guess I was just trying to figure if the added expense of the latigo leather would make any difference over the other varieties. I don't intend on giving up on them this time.

 

[JonM]

I bit the bullet & ordered myself a black latigo Big Daddy. Thanks, guys!

 

[sgtd]

I bit the bullet & ordered myself a black latigo Big Daddy. Thanks, guys!

I was looking at getting that one also but ended up getting the regular one.