Thread: Latigo draw?

I have a SRD black latigo strop, from what I've read about this leather it is suppose to have a good amount of draw. Now; I don't have a ton of experience with strops having had another latigo and a horse hide. To me the latigo has very minimul draw and more akin to a slick feel. I've treated it with mink oil, palm rubbing and it still has the same slick feel to me.

Is this strop suppose to have a decent amount of draw? I do have a buffalo strop from SRD and it seems perfect as far as draw is concerned.

How does one increase the draw with this type (latigo) of leather?

Unfortunately, you can't really assign a strict 'draw' rating to latigo. The latigo that was prevalent some years ago had a lot of draw then there was an influx of latigo tanned in mexico which had much, much less draw. You can also get really oily stuff that is not suitable for strops. Strop-makers are at the mercy of the leather suppliers most of the time - you get what they have. Unless you can strike up a decent rapport with the tannery itself, you have to take what is on offer.

The latigo with very little draw also tends to be somewhat stiffer and denser than the other types, due to the method of tanning. For this reason oil mainly sits on the surface without being absorbed much, so it does not affect the draw like one would expect.

The only thin you can do is keep using it - it 'gives' a little after several months usage and the draw improves. Grasping both ends of the strop and pulling back and forth over a genle curve like a rounded table top, bannister or chairleg helps a bit (stropping side uppermost - flesh side against the curved surface) if you keep the angle fairly steep and do it a lot - a heck of a lot!

Regards,
Neil

I totally agree with Neil. I have the same strop and it was fairly light on draw when I got it but with daily palm rubbing and use the draw increases pretty swiftly!

Mine has a lovely buttery draw now and is basically exactly where I like it.

Try putting lather on your strop and letting it dry overnight, and then buffing it off the next morning. That increased the draw on mine very noticeably (I used a $2 VDH deluxe soap, which is glycerin based with shea butter added).

To decrease the draw, wipe the strop down with a wet rag (more wipes = less draw), then re moisturize the surface by rubbing in some liquid glycerin.

ps: I find I get slightly better edges with less draw, but it takes more strokes...

Latigo has a layer of oil and wax and when it is new, it is very slick. Once you get past the oil and wax, the draw increases significantly. Some folks use a couple of treatments of neatsfoot oil rubbed in and allowed to sit overnight, followed by daily palm rubbing until your palm feels warm. You should notice a small amount of leeching which can simply be brushed off the strop with your hand. After a few weeks, the strop should start to develop a heavier draw. You should start noticing in in a few days.

Have fun,

Lynn

This is a good thread for me. I just purchased a new 3" Latigo, and was wondering what needed to be done to this type strop.
Thanks from a newbie!