Blackrock Leather Stuff: WesternWorld's best kept secret.

[mvp]

I really like Blackrock. Is it mainly carnuba wax?

Recently, I busted out and used it on some English tack (thinner, softer grain leather), rather than on my tooled western saddle. It did a great job! It’s good for things like paddock boots that get down-n-dirty with abrasive sand/dirt.

Any caveats?

Any other secret products you guys have up your sleeve?

Why doesn’t English World know about this? Or, more generally, why don’t tack care items go across The Divide more often?

[aktill]

I do the opposite, in that I use Passier products exclusively on my western tack.

The reason most products don’t cross is that english tack is generally exclusively chrome tanned leathers, where western tack is largely vegetable tanned. Care and feeding for both is a little different.

Lots of western show riders also want to avoid darkening light oil tack, so the neatsfoot component of english products is to be avoided.

I’m also convinced there’s a cost element - something with a fancy Euro name is going to command a higher price, generally.

[mvp]

I didn’t think of the chrome/vegetable tanned issue.

I’ll bet your western stuff likes the EuroFood you feed it.

But I will say that Blackrock put a durable-yet-nourishing (i.e oil/fat in it) finish on some lucky English tack of mine. I did use it on the hard working stuff that I don’t clean often.**

**That’s now that the tack is all grown up. I am very particular about the start I give newborn tack. It gets started right before being sent out in the world for abuse and neglect. The strategy works and it can always be brought back… if it has a good, oil-fed start.

[Pocket_Pony]

Good topic - I haven’t yet done anything to my new saddle that I got in December. I use Effax Lederbalsam on my english saddles - would that be okay? I don’t mind if it gets a bit darker…

[Tegan301]

I only have English tack and I love Blackrock!, I love the consistency of the product and the finish it gives. Agree that it works great on boots!