Posts made by weegeebee1

I had to give it a wash after this beat down. Got a lot more sweaty than I thought LOL. I'm starting to think this leather is indestructible.

@goosehd here's what I determined after a whole bunch of experiments. I think oil only is best for this particular leather. Anything with beeswax or vaseline type stuff is going to make the leather rubbery. This tanning formula is really odd to me. I've handled over 50 leather jackets and I still can't figure it out. I think it's a veg tanned CXL combo or is veg tanned with thick top coat.

I gave my shirt another hand wash but this time didn't do any conditioner, and so far it's the softest it's ever been. Maybe it's just a combo of all the wears and work so far, but I think it's more about the conditioner unnecessarily adding more to the top coat. think this leather needs to breath and get exposed to the elements to really come to life.

If not here, I give up lol

Funny how we're all getting different results. Very cool actually. I was nervous about going full blown soak, so I kind of cheated and did a very wet wipe down with a rag. The shirt definitely got wet but not all the way through to the rough out side. Wore it dry, about 6 hours, although under the arm pits it was a little wet for a few more hours. Hit it with my fav conditioner Skidmores once again. While I got some puckering and waves in the placket, nowhere near to the level Auto got. So I'm guessing the more wet it gets, the higher the likelihood you'll get some tightening up. Anyway, I'll post some pics tomorrow when I can take some proper shots in the sunlight.

Overall results, still pretty rigid although there was a moment there when it was wet I really had hope LOL. But there was a kind of "opening up" that Auto describes making the shirt a little bit more wearable. I'm not getting much drape, but a sort of settling down if that makes sense. And probably some expansion in the shoulders which is where I needed the most help. Still getting snap pops though on the middle snap and above. I got a feeling I may have permanently blown out the cupping effect because they were popping so violently before. Or maybe I'm just crazy LOL. But they do seem to pop much more easier now so that kind of sucks. I might mess around with some pliers next.

@Autorotate that is pretty epic before and after. you eliminated the "turtle shell" sort of aspect of it and how it just sort of hangs off you like a halo. It does seem like you got some shrinkage, but I guess if you gained some pliability, it's sort of a net net. If the leather gives some (i.e. like denim or cotton), then you can afford to get it a little more snug. I'm just worried I'm going to get tighter and still stiff and then, IDK won't be long till you see it on classifieds lol.

What would you say the comfort level is now vs before?

@Autorotate dedication right here. Did you take before measurements? Curious to see if you get any opening up in actual numbers or if it just "feels" better. I'd take either tbh as I'm on the edge of it being too tight, but it's more of a comfort issue for me.

I'm in same boat as you. Going to try assuming there's no shrinkage. I literally cannot afford .1 inch anywhere or shirt will be destined to wear open only and I'll end up like one of those "after I lose 5-10 lbs, I'll be good" LOL.

@the246guy wipe down the collar every few months with damp rag. After apply conditioner if you're wearing and or sweating a lot. The lexol cleaner is good call too if it's like extreme wearing or maybe just once a year kind of thing.

I need these snap hacks. Still popping buttons since I gained a few over the holidays. In meantime, shirt getting wears.

@Autorotate I wouldn't apply pecards and then get wet. Pecards is pretty much vaseline with some extra oils. So that will repel water. Not totally waterproof, but definitely make it harder to fully absorb. Which brings me to my next point. If you get it wet, make sure it is fully wet and soaked all over. Don't try spot treatment and that kind of thing. Whatever evolution is going to happen, you want it all over to make it look more natural and even.

You probably read some of my posts on TFL. I go by "Toomanyhatsonlyonehead" over there. I've washed many, many leather jackets, put in dryer full blast, etc. I haven't had a "ruin" yet, but I definitely can see ways it could go wrong. The biggest issue with doing with jackets is the zipper. It will cause waves since the zipper doesn't shrink with the leather.

Also, I wouldn't try the wet and dry method with the pale rider unless it's at least a size too big. I don't think this shirt will wear comfortable skin tight. The shirt pocket, placket, etc. adds a lot of thickness, and some of the edges almost feel sharp if that makes sense. I'd be curious to know more about the kind of tanning they did to the leather. It doesn't feel like veg tan to me. It has more CXL type qualities, so maybe it's a combo, or maybe it's veg tan, but there's some sort of top coat, pigment finish, etc. Anyway, I'm really curious to see the journey over the next couple years with lots of wears. I think those wearing on motorcycles are going to speed up that process with the exposure to elements, all that motion, etc. vs someone just wearing around the house like me.

@louisbosco you looking for darker color or don't like the fit of yours? The color will come with time. hang in the sun once we get to warmer temps and it literally will change overnight. A good 4-5 hours on each side is enough to get it going.

the fit is tricky, I won't lie. We'll see how it turns out after a couple good wearing seasons. If it softens up to what I'm used to with most veg tan leathers, I think it'll be top 10 things ever LOL. But right now, it's very turtle shell like. There's very little room for margin between too tight, just right, and too big. Compared to some of my UHF where the ptp can vary by a full inch and I'm good, this has got like maybe .5 inch max range to fit right.

@Autorotate right on, brother. Congrats. The weather is slowly changing here and this shirt will get heavy rotation probably Apr - May. I keep waiting for it to soften up, but I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. The Pecards helped a lot with the touch feel, but the leather doesn't drape much. But color evo has been spectacular. Here's my IG stuff on it from a few weeks back:

I'm pretty new around here, but Filthy is probably the first person I "recognized" as I perused the forums.  For obvious reasons–his name, his look, his passion for the brand.  He seemed to be in every thread I was looking at.

I saw his recent fire sale posts in classifieds and I could sense the pain.  Having to give up some of his cherished items to raise money to save his truck, etc.  Unfortunately he was a good size or two heavier than me and so I couldn't buy any of it, but I knew deep down inside this was a good guy going through some tough shit.

God rest his soul.

@Dmart:

This looks fantastic And the fit is on point if you ask me.

thanks, brother.  Just need to stay clear of any egg nog and treats for the next couple months 

I was a little worried when I first got it, but with a few wears it started easing some.  I'm still getting one button pop, the one right below the pockets. But that's if I'm really trying to push the extreme of range. It's definitely more pinched in that area, but again, I think it's mostly the thicker leather across the bottom of the chest that's not flexing.  10 wears + the pecards made a huge difference.  Worst case, just need a hair or two more with future wears, and I won't even fuss about it.  Definite first world problems here.

Fellow Pale Riders, I tried a coat of Pecards.  Highly, highly, strongly, strongly recommend it.  Shirt instantly turned supple.  It does add about a shade or two of color and some shininess.  The latter will dull out in a few days from my other experiences applying to various jackets.

Besides the aesthetics, I don't know how to describe it, but it just made wearing the shirt a lot more comfortable.  I know it didn't "stretch" the leather, but it gave it some give.  I mentioned before, the main note is about the areas of the shirt where the leather is doubled up (placket, pockets, etc.),  I can now feel and see it easing better in those areas.

Big thumbs up.

@marco23d:

I also went through the recent ReLove release. I'm 5'10 180 lbs. Went with a large. I usually enjoy wearing my UHF as a M and only wear them unbuttoned. I was a bit worried about the chest being too tight so decided to size up. Based on initial stiffness i'm glad I did. Not sure if I would've lasted in a M. The only downside for me sizing up is the back tends to flare out like a shell when it's unbuttoned. And the area around my shoulders/biceps are a bit loose. But i'm sure as it softens that will ease up.

That is awesome fit.  A hair wide on the shoulders, but that'll settle with time.  I think the L was almost the same exact measurements as the XL I got.  I bashed the add to cart so fast and didn't notice the measurements until afterward.  Ain't going to lie, I'd love another .5 inch on the shoulders and maybe another .25 on the ptp.  But, as the leather breaks in and drapes better, I think it'll wear more like a shirt, which is the point I think.

Right now, I feel like I'm wearing a jacket cut like a shirt LOL.  So it's in that transformation period, but I see the upside with more time and wears

@Rack0:

This looks awesome man!  What did you use to condition it or is that golden color all sun?  Thanks!

Thanks.  It's definitely getting there quicker than I thought.

I used Skidmores.  It's awesome stuff (but see my comment below).  An old timer upholstery guy told me about it.  There's a trick where you put it on leather, and then put the leather in a black trash bag, and put it out in the sun for a couple days.  Helps it penetrate.  I didn't do that part yet because weather has been cold and cloudy for most part.  So it just got a simple coat, rubbed on with my fingers.  (insert Silence of Lambs joke now) 

In hindsight, I should have waited though.  It has beeswax and some other stuff, and I think that added to the rigidness.  I was just eager to get some color going with the oil in it (which I'm pretty sure is linseed oil).

Once it gets some more sun and more importantly more wears and I feel that softer texture popping, I'm going to put some Pecards on it.  It's basically fancy vaseline, which in theory should soften the leather.

I'm pretty sure that I read the pale rider leather is veg tanned, but it kind of feels more chrome tanned to me.  I wonder if it was combo tanned or maybe there's just some sort of top coat.  The reason I ask is with all my leather jackets, I've found pecards works better on CXL type stuff because even though it has some beeswax in it, it's mostly vaseline.  You really don't want to add more wax to heavily wax treated leather.  So I use the Skidmores for more of the veg tanned stuff and that's why I grabbed it first for the pale rider.

All that being said, a good shade or two did come from the sun.  Reason I know is because I got stuck out one day, and only one side got tanned, and it was noticeable.

This thread needs more photos.

This is one from my IG this morning:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1WZAfrtFE/

Really love how it has evolved with only 1 week of wearing and maybe 10 hours or so hanging in the sun.  It's definitely still stiff.  I'm going to hit it with some Pecards in a few weeks.  I'm still getting a little bit of the button popping that others have mentioned, but it's dramatically improved.  I think the main issue is the double thick leather with the pockets and the folded over placket doesn't allow for much movement across the chest until it's broken in.  The arm holes are also high and tight. I notice most, if not all of us, are getting that pinching around the arm pits.  Putting in some all day and all night wears to get this baby broken in some more, but it's super nice and will only get better as it settles in.

The size is XL.  For reference I'm 6'0 and 185lbs.  It was a small XL though, like 22.25 ptp kind of thing.  I would have loved to have gotten closer to spec XL, but since this was a lucky cop on the recent reloved listing, I'm not going to get too picky.  The snap marks and other blemishes are nothing in the long scope of thing.  In fact, I've really thought about picking up that last XXL to have as more of an overshirt, but I think that one will be too big and with the stiffness, will just look funny.

@Heavy_blue:

My advice would be to size the same as in your 777, overall the 666 has a more fitted top block and indeed a tighter tigh. In the end it’s always a trial and error. But my experience is that sizing down on a 666 is never a good idea. But that’s just my 2 cents.

thanks for this!  Very helpful people around these parts 

Size question advice.

There's a nice pair of these in the classified section.  They're a size 33 and I'm usually a 34 in the few other pairs I have (634s and 777s both 21oz)

I have a pair of 777s 21oz size 34 that are overall a good fit for me, maybe just getting to the edge of tight, but I wouldn't say uncomfortable.  Measurements wise they're fairly comparable even though the 777s is 34 and the 666s is 33, except the 666s seems maybe a .25 inch less in thigh.  The 666s seem to be pretty maxed out though as the waist and thigh are a good clip above the out of the box measurements.  So not sure how much more give there'd be.

Just curious if anyone else was in similar position where they usually wear size 34s in 634s and 777s, what size they bought for these 666s.  I'm 6'0 185 lbs for reference, I know not the perfect way to match but just to give context.

TIA

shout out to @Special_K  He was selling 634s elsewhere and found out he was a member here.  Really smooth transaction, nice guy to talk to, and product was awesome condition at fair price, fast shipping, etc.  Buy with confidence.