Making old tack supple?

Montyforever

Montyforever

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 April 2009
Messages
5,706
Location
Kent
Visit site
Been asked by a mate to sort out her saddle.

Now its 30ish years old and the leathers bent in totally wrong ways and is v/stiff.

Ive been oiling it twice a day for 3 days and im seeing hardly any improvment .. could it be too far gone?

Getting v.annoyed as its a v.nice saddle!!
mad.gif
 
I like good old saddle soap. I have my sponge hardly wet and practically scoop it out and rub into the tack (after cleaning off dirt with a damp but otherwise clean sponge- no soap). Works lovely usually. Have had some really nice creamy leather soap which is great but it's running out now. The Naff one we have now is 'Naff'
tongue.gif
it's too hard.

So in short- good creamy saddle soap on a barely damp sponge and keep scooping it out and rubbing it in until no more will go in.

ETS: I did once make an amazing saddle soap with a plain block of glycerin, and half a pint of milk (or maybe it was a quarter). Melted in an old pan and then poured into an empty container and left to set. LOVELY! Pan is only good for bin though
wink.gif
 
Scrap that it was less than a quarter, more a healthy good slosh. And you can put a dribble of olive oil in there too. Lovely!
Am going to make some... although a bar of glycerin is ridiculously expensive for what it is these days!
 
Don't use oil!

A good covering of Ko cho line, then wrap the saddle up in newspaper or a bin bag and put it away for a few days.
Get it out, if the leather has 'eaten' all the Ko cho line then put another coating on, after about 10 days the saddle will have improved no end.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't use oil!

A good covering of Ko cho line, then wrap the saddle up in newspaper or a bin bag and put it away for a few days.
Get it out, if the leather has 'eaten' all the Ko cho line then put another coating on, after about 10 days the saddle will have improved no end.
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Was going to say the exact same thing, best stuff ever i think, worked wonders on my old saddles.
 
ko cho line

or I have just refreshed all my boots and old stuff by melting some jeffries waxy stuff I had and covering it in that which worked well.
 
Dont put too much oil on!
Try any good leather food that has any or all of these ingredients
beeswax, tallow and lanolin.
OIL is not good if over applied, you need VERY little oil and that should be put on the flesh side (underneath on firm hide only) NOT the grain side.
If you are going to use oil dont use neatsfoot use cod liver oil.
We hand finish our hides with tallow mainly.
I also use Aussies by Fiebings, (yellow tin) it really does supple up hides.
If you can't find any in local tack shops I have one tin left in stock I believe if you want to buy it.
Oz
wink.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top