fornema
Well-Known Member
I have a K&M saddled which the seat seams have faded a little, any ideas to darken the area again?
Reblackening a Saddle ideas?
- Thread starter fornema
- Start date
SilverLinings
Well-Known Member
I was taught to use boot polish as part of tack cleaning and preparation at the old-fashioned Army riding school I learnt at as a child, and it is great for restoring colour. For your saddle I would use black boot polish, worked in well and then buffed off with a cloth. Once you think you've buffed adequately, firmly wipe a white tissue or paper towel (or, as I was taught, use your pristine white handkerchief!) across the surface to check that no polish is going to transfer onto your breeches- if there is polish on the tissue then buff some more with the cloth.
I have used this technique on a black saddle (have previously always had brown) for the last few years since acquiring a very comfortable and well-fitting but tired looking second hand saddle (free with the horse it fits), and polish restored the saddle from grey to black again, and I just do it about four times a year now. I use a suitable leather conditioner the other times I clean it. I have never had polish transfer onto my clothes, and in winter I use a cream-coloured wool seat saver and that hasn't picked up any of the polish either. I also use this technique to spruce up bridles (black or brown) when required, and despite having grey horses the polish has never marked them, even when riding in wet weather.
The only down side is that this wouldn't work on suede panels as it would damage the nap, and you have to be careful not to apply too much polish onto the seat of the saddle as you don't want it to become slippery. If a lot of colour is required then I have found that it is better to apply a thin coat of polish one week, leather conditioner the next and then polish again helps to darken the colour without building up a slippery surface. This is obviously less of a problem if you ride with a seat saver.
You can also buy leather dye, but if you don't dye the whole item the newly dyed bit will stand out as being darker/a different colour. Apparently it can also be difficult to dye a larger area without it looking streaky/patchy.
I have used this technique on a black saddle (have previously always had brown) for the last few years since acquiring a very comfortable and well-fitting but tired looking second hand saddle (free with the horse it fits), and polish restored the saddle from grey to black again, and I just do it about four times a year now. I use a suitable leather conditioner the other times I clean it. I have never had polish transfer onto my clothes, and in winter I use a cream-coloured wool seat saver and that hasn't picked up any of the polish either. I also use this technique to spruce up bridles (black or brown) when required, and despite having grey horses the polish has never marked them, even when riding in wet weather.
The only down side is that this wouldn't work on suede panels as it would damage the nap, and you have to be careful not to apply too much polish onto the seat of the saddle as you don't want it to become slippery. If a lot of colour is required then I have found that it is better to apply a thin coat of polish one week, leather conditioner the next and then polish again helps to darken the colour without building up a slippery surface. This is obviously less of a problem if you ride with a seat saver.
You can also buy leather dye, but if you don't dye the whole item the newly dyed bit will stand out as being darker/a different colour. Apparently it can also be difficult to dye a larger area without it looking streaky/patchy.
fornema
Well-Known Member
Amazing thank you! Boot polish was my first thought but wasn’t 100% sure it could be used on saddles. I shall start with that.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
High risk I'd say, and not something any maker would recommend I'm afraid. There is The Dying Lady (yes I know, spelling!) and another on FB that specialise in dyeing saddles and wouldn't charge much for just the seat.
Last edited:
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't use boot polish you can buy leather dye but with a saddle I think I would pay and have it done properly its not like a simple pair of shoes.
Cortez
Tough but Fair
It’s not difficult to dye leather, but then I do it all the time and have/had the equipment and dyes as part of my business.
ETA - boot polish really isn’t a good idea, it’s just coloured wax and comes off, also slippery.
ETA - boot polish really isn’t a good idea, it’s just coloured wax and comes off, also slippery.