what's the best leather treatment?

[Sandstone1]

What's the best leather treatment for new tack and to treat old unused tack.
Have some car day and Martin balm but it doesn't seem that good.
Any you would reccomend?

 

[qwerty123]

What's the best leather treatment for new tack and to treat old unused tack.
Have some car day and Martin balm but it doesn't seem that good.
Any you would reccomend?

My local tack shop recommended neatsfoot oil followed by stubben saddle soap

 

[Sandstone1]

Thanks.

 

[Cowpony]

Renapur

 

[Hepsibah]

Oh, oh, I know! A saddler friend of mine makes her own. If you have the time to make it, it's the biz.

Curriers Grease Recipie from Karin Hackett

75% Tallow (750ml) Beef fat, lamb fat or lard
25% Neatsfoot (250ml)
1 x 50g lump of Beeswax
Put it all in a pan and heat it, stirring it together whilst it melts. DO NOT LET IT BOIL. Once it's all blended, let it cool. Once cool, scoop it into a sealable container.
To use it, best used warm - heat a little up and apply mostly to flesh side/underneath side of leather with bare hands if possible. It helps penetrate the leather.
You need very little at at time - a little goes a LONG way.
Once it is dry, which could take up to three days, give it a good rub with a bit of terry towelling to buff it up.

I have made and used this and it's amazing, my leatherwork is as soft as butter.

 

[Sandstone1]

Thank you, I've also been sent a recipe from cremdementhe. Where to get beeswax from?

 

[Hepsibah]

I saw some for sale in a local health food shop.

 

[twiggy2]

I got mine from ebay

 

[C1airey]

Where to get beeswax from?

A good hardware store. The type that would sell four candles/fork handles.

 

[Clip1clop1]

For new leather- Flexalan oil softens it up overnight. The leather literally drinks it up.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Please don't oil leather(neatsfoot) it's not good for it, not on it's own, blended sparingly with other things it's not so bad.
I have an article on cleaning and conditioning leather if anyone wants to read to, PM me

 

[fatpiggy]

Good old fashioned saddle soap every time. I never use oil either, it overloads the leather and can cause it to rot.

 

[Micky]

Saddle soap to clean, dry in normal room, then Albion balm, love the stuff and my tack seems to last an awful long time, no stiffness, marks etc.