Tips for softening leather, please

C

cyberhorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 February 2008
Messages
1,276
Location
Westmorland
Visit site
I have just got a second hand saddle which is in good condition generally, but would benefit from a a reflock. Being a Stubben the flocking has gone hard and my saddler stopped part way through removing the flocking, as the leather was showing signs of cracking. He is trying to remove and reflock without opening the whole thing up for a neater result. I do not think the underside has been routinely conditioned after cleaning like the rest of the saddle, so it needs help.

I have used the conditioner the saddler gave me, but it is not softening it much. So far over the past few weeks I have tried golden label hide food I was given (beeswax & lanolin), and stubben hamanol. I cannot use my usual wonder leather feeder (neatsfoot oil) as it will darken the leather; being a stubben it is light tan underneath.

Ideas???
 
Tbh if it is so dry it is starting to crack then darkening the leather is the least of your worries! I like kho-cho-line, it will darken a little but it will soften too. That followed by a grease conditioner should help alot. That said, if it is already splitting then there is nothing that will 'grow' it back stronger, so you might need to budget for a repair job from your saddler too.
 
I had suggested a repair but he said it was not necessary and I had to get it conditioned! According to him the Stubbens are a pain to reflock due to how hard the flocking goes and the amount of forced needed to sort them out, so the leather needs to be more supple than in most saddles to manage a reflock in the pocket way. It has not split but has fine crack lines so I think he stopped before causing damage.

I'll give the Carr and Day a try next then. Failing that I think it will need fully opening up. Not really the cost that is the issue, but the time it will need to be away for.
 
Ladylina83 said:
Good old neatsfoot oil ! _ i always clean my tack with hot hot water and then oil it , it seems to absorb better
Click to expand...

Arghh! don't use hot water what ever you do, you will wreck your leather! Cold water is just fine, before conditioning. I wouldn't use an oil each time you clean as it isn't necessary and will help leather to stretch. A solid grease wiped over after cleaning is best to keep leather looking and working for many years.
 
ThePony said:
Arghh! don't use hot water what ever you do, you will wreck your leather! Cold water is just fine, before conditioning. I wouldn't use an oil each time you clean as it isn't necessary and will help leather to stretch. A solid grease wiped over after cleaning is best to keep leather looking and working for many years.
Click to expand...

Slaps own wrist !! I'd had my saddle for 10 years and it was still in perfect condition before it was stolen

... also please read each time as not very often !! I'm not the best at keeping on top of my cleaning !! The hot water helps get the grease off when I start finding mold !! :-0 (I'm joking.... kind of, but I know I'm not the only one !!)

Anyway neatsfoot oil brought my saber bridle back to life after its 2 years off living in a box
 
Ladylina83 said:
Slaps own wrist !! I'd had my saddle for 10 years and it was still in perfect condition before it was stolen

... also please read each time as not very often !! I'm not the best at keeping on top of my cleaning !! The hot water helps get the grease off when I start finding mold !! :-0 (I'm joking.... kind of, but I know I'm not the only one !!)

Anyway neatsfoot oil brought my saber bridle back to life after its 2 years off living in a box
Click to expand...

Oil is fab for occasional use to revive older stuff, but regular use on a bridle/leathers etc can spoil it through stretching. It is better than the hot water though!! I like to be sure my leatherwork lasts as long as I do so I am rather uptight about it all!
 
Thanks for the link Tictac. Sounds good stuff and a great idea of adding a little tea tree as mould prevention, very useful for those bits of tack you use less often.

For my more routine cleaning I use sheraton leather balsam wipes and for a more thorough clean the Carr & Day 1&2. Ladylina most people I know use fairy liquid with their hot water - that I can't bring myself to use. They finish theirs in 2min, but I would rather sit there a bit longer scrubbing.
 
Last edited:
ThePony said:
Oil is fab for occasional use to revive older stuff!
Click to expand...

Isn't that what the OP was asking for !:-/

ThePony said:
It is better than the hot water though!!!
Click to expand...

Oh but I use both ! TOGETHER bum bum bummmmm ! ( sorry I shouldn't wind you up if it's a pet peev ) I am always envious of people who have the self disipline to clean tack all the time - I am sure yours is lovely !! I think I spent too many of my Friday nights in my youth cleaning other peoples as a hunt groom that the thought of it fills me with dread ... oh no think of all those other peoples tack I must have ruined lol !!! :-0


( Seriously though I wonder were I learnt to use hot water from ? I know blooming loads of people that do it - we used to have tack cleaning parties the night before a show - The stirrups & bits all went in a bucket of hot water and we used that to clean the tack with... anyway I can't imagine its my cleaning that will spoil my tack like I said - It'll be the lack of it !)

OP good luck with your saddle - I hope yours wasn't one of the ones I cleaned !
 
Hot water does clean the grot off easier, it's just bad for the leather!
Ahem, anyway I'll get my coat now!! I really should get out more, I am a total saddo when it comes to my tack!
 
ThePony said:
I like kho-cho-line, it will darken a little but it will soften too.
Click to expand...

Fantastic stuff but I used it on a lighter colour saddle years ago and it had a definite pink tinge after :)

Oakwood reminds me alot of Khocholine, it smells similar and has a similar texture but is light in colour not pink so less likely to colour it.
 
criso said:
Fantastic stuff but I used it on a lighter colour saddle years ago and it had a definite pink tinge after :)

Oakwood reminds me alot of Khocholine, it smells similar and has a similar texture but is light in colour not pink so less likely to colour it.
Click to expand...

Oakwood is probably the best bet of those two for me to try then. Will see which (if any) of the recommended lotions and potions they have when I drop in at DH this week...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top