Club Obi Wan

Hey guys and gals! I just ordered my first Wested OTR Raiders Jacket. I decided to go with the washed goat since it looks like it will distress a little easier over time. Any tips you guys can provide on distressing would be appreciated. I'm a little nervous as to how it's going to fit. I have a 42 inch chest and decided to go with the 44 sized jacket. Hopefully that will allow me a little wiggle room. I lift a lot and don't want to outgrow the jacket. Anyways if any of you have any pics of your Wested Raiders Washed Goat please post them up. I'd love to see them!

The great thing about the washed goat is you really do not have to distress it. It breaks in really quick(gets scuff marks fast). one of my fav leathers. I think you will be very happy.Cheers to you

It's in essence a naked leather and as gringo mentioned, it scuffs easily, so it will distress right away.

Congratulations on your purchase. I know many people here own wested jackets and are very happy with them, and I'm sure you will be too.

As for distressing, my opinion is to distress it by wearing it. Sure it normally takes longern but there are many here who have wasted hundreds of dollars by accidentally over distressing their gear. I find this to especially be true of the jackets. I've seen plenty of what were originally very high quality jackets turned into garbage.

Also by letting the jacket naturally distress, it develops a personality that is consistent with your own, ansd looks believable on you. In other words if you are the type that is moderately active and doesn't live a high adventuring lifestyle (which is nothing to be ashamed of) it won't look right to be wearing a jacket that looks like it was run over by a tank. This is only my opinion however, and may differ from yours.

Anyhow, I hope the wait time for your jacket is short, and please post some pics once it arrives!

Thanks for the feedback fellas! I should have mentioned this is my second Indy jacket...Im the proud owner of an original Tony Nowak KOTCS jacket...Number 24/777. That thing is a work of art in itself!

Conratulations weaponx24.

I have had my Wested for a couple of years now, and I love wearing it. I'm in the just have it distress naturally as you wear it corner by the way.

Would love to find out how it compares to your Tony Nowak!

I think that I will always be partial to the one Big Tony made me just because it was my first one, and the way I was able to work with Tony on it left me with many fond memories of the man! Although I do have high hopes for this one. I just hope I can break it in quick.

I read on a couple different posts on here that some members recommend you take a shower with it in order to help break it in a little bit better. Has anyone really tried this method and have pics if the result?

I found a good soaking works great on a new jacket here's some pics of my lamb OTR Raiders when it was just a few weeks old. If you wear it for a while when it's still damp it really molds to your body and sets in the arm wrinkles. Also knocks the new shine down abit.

Since these were taken it's had two more showers, a dip in the kid,s paddling pool and a few sunny days hung on the line, together with 6 months wear, it looks better than ever!

ZOLTAR

Wow! Yeah man! That looks great! Did it shrink up on you at all?

The only place I could feel a difference shrinkage wise was in the shoulders, only slightly tighter but they loosend off after one wear. The sleeves ride up about an inch as they wrinkle but I think that happens over time anyway.

ZOLTAR

A.J. Cairo wrote:As for distressing, my opinion is to distress it by wearing it.

I second this. It's like a scratch on a knife/tool or even a scar on your body - and maybe it tells a story, too.

Well I'll give it a shot. Yours looks awesome! Very impressive! I wonder how long it's going to take to get here. It's been a week already.

Gemma said that its going to ship on Tuesday! I cant wait to see it!

Agree... best way to distress the jacket os to wear it a lot... it naturally ages and like Quindy said a few scratches will provide u with some stories to tell the kids...

Jacket looks good Zoltar! I like both kinds of distressing, but I agree that natural distressing is the way to go.

I guess I'll just have to wear it and beat the sh*t out of it!!! That sounds like the general consensus here...

You bet...

i hope it gets here this week....i cant wait to see what it looks like.

Zoltar wrote:I found a good soaking works great on a new jacket here's some pics of my lamb OTR Raiders when it was just a few weeks old. If you wear it for a while when it's still damp it really molds to your body and sets in the arm wrinkles. Also knocks the new shine down abit.

Since these were taken it's had two more showers, a dip in the kid,s paddling pool and a few sunny days hung on the line, together with 6 months wear, it looks better than ever!

ZOLTAR

Did you put any leather conditioner on it at all? I cant get over how awesome it looks!

well its here!!! it fits awesome but definitely needs to be broken in. i think ill soak it in the shower.

I washed my lambskin wested with some water... didnt soak it though.
Kinda want to do the process slowly... still prefer the natural distressing...

About how many times do you have to soak it? Should I do it again tonight?

In the past, I've put mine on a hanger, zipped it up, and run it across the shower head. The process should take no longer than 5 minutes. Do the collar in the sink, so the water will not get into the lining.

I'd wet the outside and then wear it outside (if it is warm) that way you get nice wrinkly sleeves.

You want it to conform to you, rather than a hanger. IMO.

Initially wetting the jacket with it on the hanger. I didn't say leave it on the hanger.

Texan Scott wrote:In the past, I've put mine on a hanger, zipped it up, and run it across the shower head. The process should take no longer than 5 minutes. Do the collar in the sink, so the water will not get into the lining.

Texan is right,

I secoind that, also did as he did... not 5min though... just not too long so the water won't get into the lining, like Texan said.
Do this process a couple of times and then just wear your jacket, let your jacket age with time.
After a year, see how the jacket is. If you feel you need more soaking, give it a bit more push.

teko

Kt Templar wrote:I'd wet the outside and then wear it outside (if it is warm) that way you get nice wrinkly sleeves.

You want it to conform to you, rather than a hanger. IMO.

I did two different processes: the first I'd wet the jacket and left it on the hanger to take out the shining. Then i did other 2 times and would wear it so I would get wrinckels.

Another thing is that during the winter I got caught many times with rain..so I would not dry my jacket out...but leave it as a way to distress it (you see, natural distressing with rain )

regards

We must be on the same page, tekkors.

Whilst you are wearing it, pull and mould the collar too. Does wonders.

Texan Scott wrote:We must be on the same page, tekkors.

Indeed Texan...

Kt Templar wrote:Whilst you are wearing it, pull and mould the collar too. Does wonders.

Ah, that's a nice tip...thanks KT.

Ok well I didn't really use that method. I basically soaked it through and through. I hope I didn't ruin it. We'll see.

weaponx24 wrote:Ok well I didn't really use that method. I basically soaked it through and through. I hope I didn't ruin it. We'll see.

Not big deal... your method is also good... i only meant that it's better you do it from time to time to see the level of "distressness" you want.
IF you're satisfied with the result, good. Give the jacket now some time to age by itself... winter is coming so let the environment does its job

regards

Man! I really soaked this #### thing! I let it dry over night, and put it out in the sun when i got home today for two hours and its still damp! Im wearing it now so that hopefully it forms to my body like you guys suggested

Don't panic. I've put lamb Westeds through the full wash cycle before. It knocks out some of the suit jacket shape, but that is what we are looking to reduce.

My washed goat has been through the wash about 3 times.

Try pushing the sleeves up and bend your arms as well to put some creases in the sleeves.

do you mean pushing my sleeves up to my elbows? i have been trying to bend my arms a bit. I do like the way it has started to look. It looks weathered, but still needs some distress around the pockets and seems and what not...

Probably not as far as that, half up your forearms is probably enough.

The pocket flaps will need scrunching up on their own to give the leather some nice creases, you can do this to the collar too.

yes, don't worry...u did good. Also the sun was a good idea.
The lambskin is resistent, it's gonna take some time to age. But in one year you will see the diference.

it seeems to be working...the sleeves are wrinkling up nicely!!!

well done...

What's the best way to post pics up on here?

weaponx24 wrote:What's the best way to post pics up on here?

Register an account with a photo hosting site like photobucket (that's what I use, http://photobucket.com) and then post links to the photos here

-KB

Thanks KB!

Ok well the jacket definitely looks more broken in now. But it feels really dry. What do you guys suggest I hit it with? Peckards? If so where can I get that stuff?

weaponx24 wrote:Ok well the jacket definitely looks more broken in now. But it feels really dry. What do you guys suggest I hit it with? Peckards? If so where can I get that stuff?

In the begining is like this, it feels dry. After a a few days the jacket gets soft again, don't worry.
It happened with mine, even though I did not soak it too much like you did.
Just wear it eventually and leave in the shade, it will get soft again....

It is because, in effect, you are 'washing out' the natural oils of the leather. This is why the jacket is 'shiny' when you originally receive it.

Texan Scott wrote:It is because, in effect, you are 'washing out' the natural oils of the leather. This is why the jacket is 'shiny' when you originally receive it.

Well said Texan
Also the drier feeling is part of the the aged and distressed look.
As I said, It will get soft again, only not as soft as before becuase as Texan said the natural oils were washed away

Oooooh...ok. Where do you guys get peckards usually? At the grocery store?

http://www.pecard.com/