Is there anything new-fangled better for resurrecting old tack?

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Technique

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Aw bless; I was talking to my Mum about bringing some of my unused tack down to my house (currently taking up space in her barn in Northumberland). I told her I was going to sort through a bag of bits in case any of them would come in handy for my friends ongoing project ponies.

Anyhow, when I got in from work in the week there was a huge parcel of the stiffest tack imaginable! I meant a bag of bits (mouth) she thought I meant the spare, odds and sods tack mountain that I am sure everybody has - bits as in bits and pieces! :D

I have some Carr, Day & Martin soap and Belvoir intensive stuff and Neatsfoot Oil, which I intend to have a cleanfest with and try and make head or tail of the heap. So far I have sorted out 2 Stubben bridles (full, black) 3 cob sized bridles (1 GFS, 1 Showing, 1 English, tatty with a flash)! An in hand pony bridle and variegated stirrups and leathers!:eek:

My question is - is there any modern miracle all in one tack cleaning wizard that has come on to the market over the past few years (leaps in new technology and all that) that will give me a better result? Or is it back to the 'wax on, wax off, Mr Miyagi' of my youth? :p:p

Newly baked lemon drizzle cake and decent coffee for all that ventured thus far. :)
 
Not really! What I have done with stiff, dry bridles etc is bung them in a plastic bag drizzled in neatsfoot oil, tie the top and chuck it in the airing cupboard for a few days. Then I get it out and give it a good soaping with the Belvoir tray soap. Hope this helps!
 
I have tried most things over the years but the tried and trusted method is

immerse briefly in water as hot a you can bear to loosen off dirt and grease and give the leather a quick rub
allow to dry (does not need to be bone dry)
treat with neatsfoot oil (I used to keep a bucket of this and immerse tack in it)
once oil has soaked in then clean with saddle soap..wet the soap, not the sponge

My only cheat here is to melt down the saddle soap and add a little milk to it before letting it set again, seems to help it go in to the leather better
 
Agree with The Watcher, glad someone else melts down heir soap too! You could try Kao-chi-line too which would have to be worked in but the others are the easiest to use along with either Flexalan or Hydrophane.
 
Ah, so there hasn't been any developments then. I can do the old fashioned thing, I just thought it was worth asking as loads of other stuff has moved on. :) I find tack cleaning quite comforting - and my 'good' stuff is kept well, but this is all stuff from the section D's and various others that have passed through my care, it will be interesting to see how it turns out.
 
Yes, Effax Leather Balsam, it's absolutely fabulous stuff and lasts for ages. I use it all the time, but it's especially good for new/stiff/old tack, and amazing for rejuvenating tack after it's been rained on for hours. I've got loads of tack hanging about that might one day come in useful ;) and it's saved me masses of time and stopped tack from becoming completely wrecked in storage.

And it doesn't make everything red like Kaocholine or however you spell it lol
 
Rowreach said:
Yes, Effax Leather Balsam, it's absolutely fabulous stuff and lasts for ages. I use it all the time, but it's especially good for new/stiff/old tack, and amazing for rejuvenating tack after it's been rained on for hours. I've got loads of tack hanging about that might one day come in useful ;) and it's saved me masses of time and stopped tack from becoming completely wrecked in storage.

And it doesn't make everything red like Kaocholine or however you spell it lol
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Ooh, I'll have a look for that - s'funny, the amount of 'just in case' tack I've got; my hoarding tendencies obviously started a lot sooner than I realised. :D
 
I've got a colt who is getting through headcollars like it's a personal challenge, and I've unearthed some old leather ones that must be 40 years old and are just the ticket for the destructive little **** :D

So you just never know when all your "bits" might come in handy!!

If you google Effax leather balsam you'll find the stockists cos not everyone has it. I can't get it over here so I buy it online - couldn't live without it!
 
Neatsfoot was what they used many years ago until they released it rotted the stitches. Use a good conditioning cream instead.
 
Effax is brilliant, as is renapur which I got from HOYS but you can buy online. Stick the tack you don't want on eBay - I made £££ from all my old bits and bobs from my pony years
 
well i used to agree with all the other suggestions BUT ive just bought a tub of NAF soft soap and its BRILLIANT -more softening on really horrid stiff leather and for days after your tack feels really supple ! i use a bit of really hot water to get off any muck and grease but my YO is a horror for her tack she never cleans it,i gave it a quick rub with this new stuff and its wonderfully soft and she has a load of really mouldy awful old leather and we are slowly working through it and its really like new! WELL DONE NAF!!:D
 
I think its called Horsemans One Step , Ive never used it myself but Ive heard loads of people rave about it as it removes dirt and salt ( from sweat) etc rather than just a cleaner or soap or conditioner . I personally use Gold Label Soft soap as its a mixture of soap and oil ... brill brill brill !
 
Any cleanser (eg One Step) - rinse well, it is NOT one step and should be followed by conditioner. I find an old fashioned dishcloth and elbow grease to be plenty for all but the filthiest tack.

Glycerine - a poor cleanser, poor conditioner, and if it has soap in it it is the wrong ph for leather. Again, rinse well if using as a soap. It is a humectant ie it attracts water, which is what makes it sticky, which is what causes "grease monkeys". Your tack will be easier to clean once you stop using it!

Oil - any oil simply loosens and stretches the fibres in the leather - it will feel supple but it is weakened. And of course, it can rot stitching.

Conditioners - the best bet after cleaning with warm water. I like Effex Lederbalsam, the Leather Therapy range, Stbben Hamanol and Oakwood Conditioner.

If you're interested in leather care track down posts by "c4" in the Tack Trunk on the Ultimate Dressage Bulletin Board. He speaks a lot of sense, and reminds us now and again that old leather was SO much better than it is now, and survived despite the way we treated it, not because of it.
 
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