Tack and hand cream

[PotofEarlGrey]

I like to think that I look after my tack: I strip it once a week and give it a quick wipe down after every use.
We got completely soaked out hacking this morning, and after drying out my tack in a warm room, I have just rubbed in a load of hand cream. And the tack looks lovely! Supple, slight sheen, nourished.
Is there any reason why I shouldn’t continue to do this? Any ingredients I need to be aware of?

 

[Merry neddy man]

This has been covered many times, the BEST you can get, is manufactured by forum member "Cremedemonthe"  https:www.unicornleather.co.uk/leather_conditioner.html on one of the threads he kindly gave a very very knowledgeable explanation of the care of tack including what NOT to use, unfortunately I cant remember the exact thread even after using the search box.

 

[Kaylum]

Did the hand cream have lanolin in it which is made out of sheep's wool? I don't suppose using it now and again will hurt. It's very oily.

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

This has been covered many times, the BEST you can get, is manufactured by forum member "Cremedemonthe"  https:www.unicornleather.co.uk/leather_conditioner.html on one of the threads he kindly gave a very very knowledgeable explanation of the care of tack including what NOT to use, unfortunately I cant remember the exact thread even after using the search box.

I actually have this!

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

Did the hand cream have lanolin in it which is made out of sheep's wool? I don't suppose using it now and again will hurt. It's very oily.

I will double check but I doubt it to be honest; it doesn’t have the feel of lanolin at all, but you have caused me to think that perhaps lanolin would be a good leather treatment…

 

[sbloom]

Lanolin is part of many conditioners, bit some people are allergic to it, and of course it's not vegetarian. Cremedemonthes product is awesome for solid type English leather, calfskin usually needs something different and you can't go wrong using whatever the saddle.manufacturere uses, especially if still under warranty.

I would not recommend using hand cream.

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

Lanolin is part of many conditioners, bit some people are allergic to it, and of course it's not vegetarian. Cremedemonthes product is awesome for solid type English leather, calfskin usually needs something different and you can't go wrong using whatever the saddle.manufacturere uses, especially if still under warranty.

I would not recommend using hand cream.

Please may I ask why you would not recommend hand cream?

 

[Vodkagirly]

Other way round but renapur feels lovely on your hands after tack cleaning

 

[expanding_horizon]

I generally find my hands are softer after tack cleaning.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Other way round but renapur feels lovely on your hands after tack cleaning

I find that as well when I don't wear gloves

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I know someone who used to clean there tack with baby wipes, although alot of wipes are just water now so I suppose that wouldn't really hurt leather.

 

[expanding_horizon]

I find that as well when I don't wear gloves

Can you clean tack properly wearing gloves?

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

Other way round but renapur feels lovely on your hands after tack cleaning

Thanks!

 

[SantaVera]

I've used veg oil and olive oil on tack when I'd run out of leather balm or soap,seemed to work.

 

[Squeak]

I would guess that their might be chemicals (especially ones to make it smell) in the hand cream that might not be great for leather. Also in my head, hand cream is for live skin whereas tack is leather (dead!) and so they would both have different needs - also would a cow have the same ph etc of skin that would mean the hand cream would even be good for the cows skin when it was alive? Hand cream wouldn't necessarily be cheaper either so I'm not sure there would be any benefit of not using saddle soap/ cream to make it worth the risk.

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

I would guess that their might be chemicals (especially ones to make it smell) in the hand cream that might not be great for leather. Also in my head, hand cream is for live skin whereas tack is leather (dead!) and so they would both have different needs - also would a cow have the same ph etc of skin that would mean the hand cream would even be good for the cows skin when it was alive? Hand cream wouldn't necessarily be cheaper either so I'm not sure there would be any benefit of not using saddle soap/ cream to make it worth the risk.

Thank you very much

 

[sbloom]

Please may I ask why you would not recommend hand cream?

Because it's not designed for leather and may have ingredients in it that are completely unhelpful.

I've used veg oil and olive oil on tack when I'd run out of leather balm or soap,seemed to work.

I'd really not recommend it. Soap, balm and oil all do completely different things, oil should rarely be used on most leathers.

I would guess that their might be chemicals (especially ones to make it smell) in the hand cream that might not be great for leather. Also in my head, hand cream is for live skin whereas tack is leather (dead!) and so they would both have different needs - also would a cow have the same ph etc of skin that would mean the hand cream would even be good for the cows skin when it was alive? Hand cream wouldn't necessarily be cheaper either so I'm not sure there would be any benefit of not using saddle soap/ cream to make it worth the risk.

Yes. I mean I sell saddles with various different leathers and products recommended, you'd not use the same product on calling as on regular thick saddle flap leather. So live human skin isn't going to need what leather needs and agree, unlikely to be any cost saving even in the short term and potentially a big expensive mistake long term.

For product recommendations this gets asked a lot so a search would yield lots of info.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Can you clean tack properly wearing gloves?

Yeah the latex ones are good

 

[ycbm]

What I can't get my head round is that the balms recommended for very expensive saddles (Stűbben's own, Effax for WOW) have in them stuff that CdM says is bad for leather?

Lanolin makes me itch like mad!

 

[sbloom]

What I can't get my head round is that the balms recommended for very expensive saddles (Stűbben's own, Effax for WOW) have in them stuff that CdM says is bad for leather?

Lanolin makes me itch like mad!

It's partly that leathers vary, and partly that there seems to be misunderstandings about what's good for leather. Effax Lederbalsam, when someone asked for a full ingredient list a few years ago, turns out to contain solvents. Once I found this out I immediately stopped recommending it. I recommend CdeM's for traditional English leathers and the makers own products for my non-traditional brand.

I don't understand it either.

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

Because it's not designed for leather and may have ingredients in it that are completely unhelpful.



I'd really not recommend it. Soap, balm and oil all do completely different things, oil should rarely be used on most leathers.



Yes. I mean I sell saddles with various different leathers and products recommended, you'd not use the same product on calling as on regular thick saddle flap leather. So live human skin isn't going to need what leather needs and agree, unlikely to be any cost saving even in the short term and potentially a big expensive mistake long term.

For product recommendations this gets asked a lot so a search would yield lots of info.

Thank you.

 

[Rowreach]

It's partly that leathers vary, and partly that there seems to be misunderstandings about what's good for leather. Effax Lederbalsam, when someone asked for a full ingredient list a few years ago, turns out to contain solvents. Once I found this out I immediately stopped recommending it. I recommend CdeM's for traditional English leathers and the makers own products for my non-traditional brand.

I don't understand it either.

I didn't know this. I've used Effax leather balsam on everything for the past 30 years - and I used to do a lot of tack cleaning and treating, multiple sets of filthy tack several times a week. My current horse wears a bridle that I bought in 1992, which is still in beautiful condition despite being in constant use all that time (it came from TDS btw, great quality!). So I'm thinking that it can't be all that bad ...

 

[sbloom]

I didn't know this. I've used Effax leather balsam on everything for the past 30 years - and I used to do a lot of tack cleaning and treating, multiple sets of filthy tack several times a week. My current horse wears a bridle that I bought in 1992, which is still in beautiful condition despite being in constant use all that time (it came from TDS btw, great quality!). So I'm thinking that it can't be all that bad ...

I see it as why not just purchase good ingredients, the good in this is having to work harder to make up for the bad. My tack was okay using it but it wasn't as good as the leather I've seen where only CdeM's Saddlers Blend has been used.

 

[ycbm]

I've tried CdM"s balm as he very kindly sent me a sample. I'm sure it's really good stuff but I found it far too difficult to use, especially in winter.

Wow used to send Effax with a new saddle and I really I like it. I just can't bring myself to believe that can get away with selling a product that damages what they claim to protect.
.

 

[sbloom]

I've tried CdM"s balm as he very kindly sent me a sample. I'm sure it's really good stuff but I found it far too difficult to use, especially in winter.

Wow used to send Effax with a new saddle and I really I like it. I just can't bring myself to believe that can get away with selling a product that damages what they claim to protect.
.

It has a damaging ingredient, it puts other stuff in it to make up for it, but I still think there is much better out there. And the smell of it makes me ick.

Saddlers Blend is a bit harder to use, take a spoonful, sit it in a container near the fire or on the radiator and use it like that. And likely you'll need to do it less often.

 

[ycbm]

And likely you'll need to do it less often.

Sorry SB I have to laugh I defy anybody to use leather balm less often than I do unless all their tack is synthetic. I just about manage to wash the bit, sometimes.
.