Leather softening question

Hawkish · November 28, 2004, 00:21

I picked up a reproduction M1907 sling for my soon to be arriving 1903A3 from the CMP. It's a little stiff and I want to soften it up. Anyone have any suggestions?

l1a1man · November 28, 2004, 00:30

Saddle soap will soften it up but might make it a little darker than it is. I used some on some old gun leather that was cracking and it quit cracking after a few treatments.

Dean P · November 28, 2004, 07:17

One of the member's here said, try peanut oil.

shortround · November 28, 2004, 07:19

Treat it with neatsfoot oil. Safe, proven, effective and best of all, cheap.

Dean P · November 28, 2004, 07:41

Neatsfoot oil would leave too much oil residue, try a peanut oil first on fine leather

Deltaten · November 28, 2004, 08:40

I'm suprized FWRA hasn't seen this yet...

try Ballistol! Good fer what ails ya!

Best,
Paul

**Palerider** · November 28, 2004, 14:16

This is what the Smithsonian uses on leather artifacts like George Washington's Family's Bible cover and the leather straps on the Wright Flyer.

==================================================
British Museum Leather Dressing
Developed by the British Museum and used by museums and private conservators in the final stage of leather treatment to impart flexibility - commonly used on leather bookbindings, pouches, belts, purses, and many other articles. Simply rub and work into the leather. Only very small quantities are applied; polish after a few days with a soft cloth. Contains beeswax. Must be applied to the leather away from open flames or sparks. Contains highly flammable hexane.

Catalog No. F4004-016 pint $17.80

http://www.consemp.com/catalog/f.html

SADDLER · November 28, 2004, 17:42

I use a product from Fiebings called Leathernew,its a glycerine based liquid saddle soap.Spray it on a sponge and rub it in.You can find it at most saddle&tack shops.Look for some leather dressing containing bees wax to work in after leathernew dries .The leather dressing I use is Liddy's from Australia works well on old dried out weather beaten saddles.

wandering_ronin · November 29, 2004, 00:07

I've had good results from using Pecard's products, although some of them may darken the leather a bit.

Bentley8 · November 29, 2004, 00:47

I second the use of Pecard's. I've brought back ancient leather slings with their antique dressing and newer slings with their leather dressing. It will darken it slightly, but I think all leather conditioners will do that. You just have to be patient and let it soak in over a few days.

fastfreddy · November 29, 2004, 09:54

www.leatherique.com

Leather restorer. I mean it. I've used this on some old leather stiff as a damned board and it became soft and supple as new. This won't make it all greasy and oil filled like neatsfoot or mink oil.

I don't know what's in it. It does smell a little funky for a few days. This stuff does what you wish the other stuff did.

Ballistol is good for maintaining leather that's in decent shape. Also smells funky.

Terick · December 01, 2004, 11:56

And in a pinch, good ol' Petroleum Jelly, aka Vasaline can still do wonders... or am i the only one?

November 28, 2004, 00:21	#1
Hawkish Registered FALaholic #: 6044 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Too close to Wichita, Kansas Posts: 426	Leather softening question I picked up a reproduction M1907 sling for my soon to be arriving 1903A3 from the CMP. It's a little stiff and I want to soften it up. Anyone have any suggestions? __________________ :fal: Liberal = Socialist Progressive = Socialist Democrat = Socialist A socialist by any other name is still a socialist! If global warming gets any worse we'll all freeze to death. Everything I need to know about Islam I learned on 9-11. Forza Vesuvio!!

November 28, 2004, 00:30	#2
l1a1man Registered FALaholic #: 15434 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: South Weber, Utah Posts: 478	Saddle soap will soften it up but might make it a little darker than it is. I used some on some old gun leather that was cracking and it quit cracking after a few treatments. __________________ Sgt, it's your job to go to new countries, meet new people and then kill them!

November 28, 2004, 07:19	#4
shortround Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 1503 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Southeast, MI, USA Posts: 2,799	Treat it with neatsfoot oil. Safe, proven, effective and best of all, cheap. __________________ Nostalgia: It's just not what it used to be. I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target. Someone asked if I was a procrastinator and I told them I wasn't sure but I'd get back with them tomorrow.

November 28, 2004, 08:40	#6
Deltaten Registered FALaholic #: 124 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lancaster, PA USA Posts: 8,499	I'm suprized FWRA hasn't seen this yet... try Ballistol! Good fer what ails ya! Best, Paul __________________ All or Nothing! Senator McCarthy was right! and as always......FYB!

November 28, 2004, 14:16	#7
Palerider Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 9006 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 455	Re: Leather softening question This is what the Smithsonian uses on leather artifacts like George Washington's Family's Bible cover and the leather straps on the Wright Flyer. ================================================== British Museum Leather Dressing Developed by the British Museum and used by museums and private conservators in the final stage of leather treatment to impart flexibility - commonly used on leather bookbindings, pouches, belts, purses, and many other articles. Simply rub and work into the leather. Only very small quantities are applied; polish after a few days with a soft cloth. Contains beeswax. Must be applied to the leather away from open flames or sparks. Contains highly flammable hexane. Catalog No. F4004-016 pint $17.80 http://www.consemp.com/catalog/f.html

November 28, 2004, 07:17	#3
Dean P banned FALaholic #: 494 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 7,101	One of the member's here said, try peanut oil.

November 28, 2004, 07:41	#5
Dean P banned FALaholic #: 494 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 7,101	Neatsfoot oil would leave too much oil residue, try a peanut oil first on fine leather

November 28, 2004, 17:42	#8
SADDLER Registered FALaholic #: 8476 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 458	I use a product from Fiebings called Leathernew,its a glycerine based liquid saddle soap.Spray it on a sponge and rub it in.You can find it at most saddle&tack shops.Look for some leather dressing containing bees wax to work in after leathernew dries .The leather dressing I use is Liddy's from Australia works well on old dried out weather beaten saddles. __________________ Never Quit ! NRA Life Member

November 29, 2004, 00:07	#9
wandering_ronin Registered FALaholic #: 10438 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 267	I've had good results from using Pecard's products, although some of them may darken the leather a bit.

November 29, 2004, 00:47	#10
Bentley8 Registered FALaholic #: 12839 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 911	I second the use of Pecard's. I've brought back ancient leather slings with their antique dressing and newer slings with their leather dressing. It will darken it slightly, but I think all leather conditioners will do that. You just have to be patient and let it soak in over a few days. __________________ My furry son has a webpage: Zorro's dogster page

November 29, 2004, 09:54	#11
fastfreddy Registered FALaholic #: 7303 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,185	www.leatherique.com Leather restorer. I mean it. I've used this on some old leather stiff as a damned board and it became soft and supple as new. This won't make it all greasy and oil filled like neatsfoot or mink oil. I don't know what's in it. It does smell a little funky for a few days. This stuff does what you wish the other stuff did. Ballistol is good for maintaining leather that's in decent shape. Also smells funky. __________________ As you heed the call to battle, let your witness be as steel.

December 01, 2004, 11:56	#12
Terick Registered FALaholic #: 3421 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: . Posts: 415	And in a pinch, good ol' Petroleum Jelly, aka Vasaline can still do wonders... or am i the only one?

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