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Realized on the ride home last Sunday that as we were riding through the torrential downpours, my leathers were actually getting soaked in one area... That is to say, the leather itself was sucking up water (not just what was coming through)... a sign from the gods that it was damn well time for me to clean & recondition my leather gear.
Now, normal leathers aren't too tricky -- you just use saddle soap per the instructions on the can, let dry, buff out, optionally seal with a spray sealant (let dry again if you do), then smear up with mink oil or wetpruf paste or neatsfoot oil or another good leather conditioner. Let that dry to haze and buff again...
But, living in Florida, virtually all my leathers are perforated leather. That makes the process a bit more tricky... Saddle soap, but get into a froth before it goes onto the leather (swirl it in the can with your damp cloth). Wipe away excess with a damp cloth as normal, but then take the gear into the shower and rinse it off well, making sure no soap is left in the holes. Allow to dry for a couple days (in the A/C at this time of year in Florida, or you'll end up with mold), then buff out any remaining wax/residues. Take it outside and spray liberally with the Camp Dry WetPruf or other leather sealant, double-spraying the seams. Let dry, back into the A/C to dry out the rest of the way (another day), buff out... now it's finally ready for the condition -- except that something like mink oil will clog up the holes, so you need a spray-based conditioner for everything except the seams & solid areas. Break out the lexol conditioner. Follow the directions...
Well treated leather lasts virtually forever (barring accidents) and repels water... Bit of work, but worth it
Gotta do the saddle some time soon too.
Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet
Now, normal leathers aren't too tricky -- you just use saddle soap per the instructions on the can, let dry, buff out, optionally seal with a spray sealant (let dry again if you do), then smear up with mink oil or wetpruf paste or neatsfoot oil or another good leather conditioner. Let that dry to haze and buff again...
But, living in Florida, virtually all my leathers are perforated leather. That makes the process a bit more tricky... Saddle soap, but get into a froth before it goes onto the leather (swirl it in the can with your damp cloth). Wipe away excess with a damp cloth as normal, but then take the gear into the shower and rinse it off well, making sure no soap is left in the holes. Allow to dry for a couple days (in the A/C at this time of year in Florida, or you'll end up with mold), then buff out any remaining wax/residues. Take it outside and spray liberally with the Camp Dry WetPruf or other leather sealant, double-spraying the seams. Let dry, back into the A/C to dry out the rest of the way (another day), buff out... now it's finally ready for the condition -- except that something like mink oil will clog up the holes, so you need a spray-based conditioner for everything except the seams & solid areas. Break out the lexol conditioner. Follow the directions...
Well treated leather lasts virtually forever (barring accidents) and repels water... Bit of work, but worth it
Gotta do the saddle some time soon too.
Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet
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