Oiling tack - possibly stupid question

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sloulou

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I have never been able to get my tack as soft and supple as I would like it to be by oiling it...

Is ther a special technique that I have failed to learn over the years
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I ask because I bought 2 GFS bridles - one new and one second hand. The second hand one is lovely and soft as the seller had oiled it - but never used it as was the wrong size.

I have oiled the new one a few times and it really is nowhere near as soft as the other one...

What am I doing wrong?
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is there a brand of oil that is better than others?
 
I just take apart the bridle and put it in an ice cream tub. Then pour on Neatsfoot oil until it's covered. I then leave for at least a day shaking occassionally. Wipe off the excess and massage with a cloth. You can pour the oil used back in the bottle so not as wasteful as it seems. I got a bridle for £14 and did this and everyone thought it was really expensive and supple - Hee Hee
 
Saddler advised me not to oil tack ??? I know you shouldn't use Neatsfoot as it rots the stitching.

Personally I use Hammnol (used to use some cracking Kieffer stuff in a silver grey pot but not seen any for years) or the jefferies own and religiously use it after saddle soaping - my tack is lovely and soft
 
Oiling tack is very old school now! your supposed to feed the leather not soak it! you will find that oiled leather will stretch to, And old fashioned saddle soap help build those greasy bits that you just cant get off, Your supposed to just wipe over with a bmp cloth then feed the leather, Jeffries do a good leather feed as do Albion... I worked at saddlers shop when the saddler told me this so don't shoot the messenger! so when I got my new saddle that's all I did & have ever done to it and it is now 8 years old, in lovely condition & looks almost new And I really haven't fed it as often as I should have! ( I was told to think of the leather as I would my own skin ) you wouldn't get out the shower without moisturising but then you don't want to drench it either or block the pours!
 
effax is the best leather treatment i've found, smells like honey, keeps leather perfect.
i sponge everything with water the moment i've taken it off the horse in question, then leave it hanging to dry all day, and use effax on everything last thing after feeds, when the leather's dry. if you try to put it on wet leather it just makes a mess. i have bridles looking as good as new after about 20 yrs with this method, and it doesn't rot the stitching, which neatsfoot is supposed to do.
i still use neatsfoot on new leather, but never near the stitching.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Saddler advised me not to oil tack ??? I know you shouldn't use Neatsfoot as it rots the stitching.


[/ QUOTE ] Wise saddler
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Effax really is one of the best things you can use.
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Also, I think it is a case of little and often rather than slapping loads of stuff on new leather!

I prefer the balm / cream type products because they give a lovely shine. I use them very sparingly and never buff the leather after!
 
agree with effax being really good(i have tried most products over the years)

i think that using it is helping my hands a bit too,they usually crack up over winter.

almost got a spoon to eat it ,its so yummy
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Agree that you shouldn't overdo oil on tack, it causes the fibres to stretch and weaken.

I like Hydrophane leather dressing tho and do the army trick with new leather. They call it 'lasting' and you basically oil the leather and 'work' it in with your hands, flexing and massaging it in.
 
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Oiling tack is very old school now!

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LOL!! In England perhaps, certainly not over here.

Neatsfoot oil does not rot stitching; if your "neatsfoot oil" is rotting your stitching then it is not pure neatsfoot oil - I assume you are talking about the aboration which is sold over there and claims to be just neatsfoot, when in fact it is petroleum mixed with neatsfoot oil.

Anyway going back to the original poster; to oil your tack you are replacing the natural oils and if you want super soft tack then you want to use 100% neatsfoot oil to rub your bridle down with, then place in a polythene bag and leave for about 2 days. When you take the bridle out it will be glorious and soft and will be far longer lasting as the oil will have penetrated right through the leather, rather than just sitting on top.
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I use either the yellow Albion stuff which I LOVE!! Or the cheaper version which is the Carr Day Martin Leather Balsam which also smells nice but is a bit greasier than the Albion. If you've got the money go for the Albion!!

My tack is so lovely and supple from being cleaned once a week during the summer and at least 4 times a week in the winter due to hunting requirements!!
 
Sometimers it doesn't matter what you put on the bridle the leather won't go lovely & supple as the leather isn't too good to start with. A few years ago i bought a GFS bridle...it was from the advantage range & to be quite honest it was awful. No matter what I did it was still awful, no sheen, it was like cardboard. I contacted GFS & they told me the Advantage is their budget range & is imported leather. The profesional range is beautiful but beware of the advantage rubbish.
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many years a go a friend oil her bosses double bridle by dipping it complete with bits in the large drum of oil that was on the yard she then just hung it up.

Got in next day, the worlds biggest double bridle now existed
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HAs stretched with all the lovely oil and weight of the bits on the bottom. Luckily her boss saw the funny side and just took the new bridle funds out of her wages a bit (haha) at a time.
 
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