Maintaining old leather

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Jo C

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Does anyone know what the best stuff is to clean very old but sound leather? I have a sidesaddle from around 1910 which is used and soaped regularly but the leather seems to be drying out and I just cannot get it to shine. Any ideas please?
 
sounds foul but my father-in-law & both grandfathers (all ex-army & both gramps oldschool horsemen) swore that human urine was good for softening up old or hard leather.
old army saying to pee in ones boots (meaning to soften them up to prevent blisters) YUK.
 
Hmmm not sure I'll be trying out that idea thanks!
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Well not unless I get really desparate lol.
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Khocholine (the stuff that comes in the metal tin like the golden syryp tins) is great if you're storing it. Hrrible pink colour, and doesn't smell great, but it really conditions the leather.

Or the best stuff I've found so far is Effax Lederbalsm. It smells LOVELY (unless you don't like honey and beeswax
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) and gives it a lovely finsh, keep it really supple. It doesn't leave it 'oily' like neatsfoot etc does as the oil/fat component soaks in and leave a lovely waxy finish that then polishes up brillaintly.
 
I have lots of old leather and I find the best way to keep it good is to make sure you get all the dirt off with water with a little drop of washing up liquid in it. You must get all the dirt off before oiling or soaping. Oil with neatsfoot, sparingly on the smooth, top side and generously on the rough underside, but avoid getting too much on the stitching. Allow this to dry, then soap with glyerine soap, never that nasty yellow stuff! I never use anything else on my tack and it is never oily or sticky. Some of it I have had for years and was old when I got it. I have had many comments in the past about how nice my tack looks and folks ask what I use to clean it, the answer is old fashioned soap, oil and elbow grease!
 
I also swear by the Effax, I have some Carr Day & Martin Leather Balsam which I am using at the moment, it's just as good but doesn't smell as nice! My tack looks brand new...and believe me, it's not.
 
Ko-cho-line is fantastic stuff IMO.
Liberally plaster the leather with it, really work it in to any nooks and cranies, then put in a bin bag or 2 and leave for a week or 2. When the saddle comes out the leather will be nourished and beautifully soft.

Make sure the saddle is completely dry before you put the K0-cho-line on.
 
Ko-cho-line is for STORING saddles only, not fot cleaning them. An old saddle like this will not tolerate oil, Effax is definately the way to go, or another Leather feed such as Hamanol.
 

Over oiling should be avoided and certainly NOT neats foot, it's far inferior to Cod Liver Oil.Oil should only be applied sparingly and on the flesh side of the hide and VERY little on the grain side (less asorbant side). Grease, fat or pastes are far better than oils for softening leather, feeding and preserving leather.Any leather food that has any or all of the follow is good: Bees Wax, Lanolin (becareful some people can be allergic to it and it can give them a rash on their hands) or tallow.
We use Aussie's leather condioner by Fiebings to dress our hides as well as hand tallowing them (currying).
We get so many people asking us for Aussies we have to buy in several boxes at a time now!
Oz
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