Leather conditioner????

[snake eyes]

I have always used saddle soap to keep my leather items in good condition. Got to wondering what do the rest of you folks use on your leather goods?

snake-eyes  

[prairie dog]

Lately I've been using Trappers mink oil from TOW.

[hawkthrower]

Neatsfoot oil - a light application using an absorbent lint free cloth - then a similar cloth to remove any unabsorbed oil and buff the surface so dust and dirt don't stick.  
A glycerin soap is good for surface cleaning, Saddle soap has glycerin as well as neatsfoot and lanolin some versions have bees wax added to seal the leather.
I think each as a separate application works best.... Clean with the glycerin/lanolin soap, then apply neatsfoot oil, allow to dry then apply a dilute mix of neatsfoot and bees wax to seal. Makes for clean & shiny long lasting leather goods
If I could avoid the lanolin I would unless the leather has hardened and I want to soften it up. Lanolin makes shaped leather too supple and tends to let it lose shape. So if you can find pure glycerin soap (which is what I use most often, though I have Saddle Soap too) perhaps it would be better than "Saddle Soap" for some items.  I find it at the local tack store or you can order it on line....

There are some general rules for application of neatsfoot oil to leather that were published by the US Cavalry as a manual in the 1860's or 70's, I think the British also have a similar publication on the care of leather goods - I'll see if I can locate them on the web and publish the link here later....

[snake eyes]

There are some general rules for application of neatsfoot oil to leather that were published by the US Cavalry as a manual in the 1860's or 70's, I think the British also have a similar publication on the care of leather goods - I'll see if I can locate them on the web and publish the link here later....

  [/color]

[hawkthrower]

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/35139/35 ... 5139-h.htm

see chapter 2 section 5 - this is for saddle care, there is another section on dress leather goods and how to get a "spit shine" as well but I haven't found it yet. there is care info in the preceding section as well regarding care of boots and new leather -

this manual is later than the one I was thinking of but has similar information

[snake eyes]

hawkthrower,
                    Thanks! Lots of good info. [/color]

[Bigsmoke]

I always liked Lube 103 for a leather conditioner.  It worked well for me.
Also liked Bumblin' Bear Grease from October Country.
The Just Good Lube from Fletcher is also a good product for leather conditioners.
John

[Hank in WV]

Don't want to hear another word about spit shinin.

[cb]

Some good info on 19th Century leather production and care
19th century tanning, leather, buff, bridle, waxed, Russia, fair, russet, hemlock, black, split, belt, tallowed, sleeked, jacked, patent, enameled, Hungry, stained, logwood, iron dyed, copperas

for a good conditioner I recommend Lexol Leather Conditioner which does not dehydrate as fast as other types leaving the leather conditioned for a longer time. It's what many pros use including myself....

[hawkthrower]

Thanks CB  I think the link you sent has all of the info I was searching for in order to post - I'll still see if I can find the original manuals I know they were published online a while ago... but the link has it all together.

A word of caution about modern leather - don't use "traditional" leather care for modern chemically tanned leather. Modern tanning process sometimes finishes leathers with treatments that require the use of silicone based wax and petroleum based oils and other types of products. High quality boots will come with a suggested care information sheet - read it!  

Although care must be taken to identify the type of tanning for a leather article before using anything on it - most "vegetable tanned" items are identified as such and can be cared for in a more traditional way.....  Thanks again CB!