Blattwerk Leather - HELP!

[MRB1248]

OK, I have a jacket made from Blattwerk Dark Brown Horse, which I got wet and now it's about as stiff as Bernie. I've tried wearing it, and still hasn't loosened up. Any ideas aside from get it wet again and see what happens?

 

[jacketjunkie]

Get a bottle of leather conditioner, something like Lexol or Pecards and apply it on the jacket, in like large amounts. Did you try the hot water treatment or what happened?

 

[Plumbline]

Never washed Blattwerk ... but have washed many others and the general rule is ... the thicker the leather, the more veg tanned and the more direct the heat the stiffer the result.

Chrome tanned leather seldom stiffens after washing / wetting unless direct heat is applied e.g. a radiator.

The only solution - conditioning and manipulation. The plus is that if the leather has stiffened then it’s generally very receptive to conditioning.

My solution when this has happened is conditioning and a 30 minute tumble drier session with a cool setting

Best of luck

 

[regius]

Also try the product Leatherique, it is the most effective leather softening conditioner.

 

[Thuggee]

How wet did it get? I’ve a couple in black same leather from SB that have gotten rained on never had a issue, didn’t throw them in the washing machine though, if my jackets ever get wet I tend to wear them until they are dry again keeps them from stiffening up but then that’s just me.


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[apba1166]

Same as Thuggee. I have a dark seal Blatt, been in rain and just kept wearing it. Not a problem but didn't get drenched through. Mine was waxed, but I suppose if it wears off, may need to re-apply if the conditioner works. The other thing that sometimes works is after conditioning, wear it with a layer on top like a vest or poncho. Keeping the body heat in/on it for a full day like that, or several days in a row, helps soften/break it.

 

[MRB1248]

Get a bottle of leather conditioner, something like Lexol or Pecards and apply it on the jacket, in like large amounts. Did you try the hot water treatment or what happened?

Hey, thanks for the replay. Sorry I didn’t respond earlier, ended up having to actually work for my paycheck.
I’ll try the conditioner again. I did it once follright after I got caught in the rain. I didn’t wear it dry, I draped it over a chair and when it was finally dry it was like armor.

 

[MRB1248]

Also try the product Leatherique, it is the most effective leather softening conditioner.

Thanks. I might try this if another round of Pecards doesn’t work.

 

[Fluffy183]

How did it turn out in the end? Did it soften up like it was before?

 

[Thuggee]

How did it turn out in the end? Did it soften up like it was before?

If the original poster put his jacket in the washing machine or wore it in heavy rain I think any vegetable tanned leather jacket wouldn’t be the same afterwards you may have better mileage with a chrome tanned jacket which I believe is the purpose of that tanning process/water resistance, I have owned 3 jackets from SB in this leather never any issues with the leather but then I never put them in a washing machine.


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[Fluffy183]

Thank you for your explanation!

 

[mattmiller1973]

Thuggee — seems like it’s been long enough I can highjack this thread (also, I want to know what happened!).

I wonder what the qualities of the Blattwerk are compared to the Horween Lux? I am planning on ordering a Tailgunner from SB and need to decide. It‘ll be a motorcycle jacket for me, so it will need to occasionally get wet...

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Lebowski]

Thuggee — seems like it’s been long enough I can highjack this thread (also, I want to know what happened!).

I wonder what the qualities of the Blattwerk are compared to the Horween Lux? I am planning on ordering a Tailgunner from SB and need to decide. It‘ll be a motorcycle jacket for me, so it will need to occasionally get wet...

Thanks,
Matt

Matt, Pecard might (and will) protect your jacket from some light occasional rains well. In case you want the leather to have some rain-resistance right out of the box - it's thick and heavy Aero CXL then (no matter steerhide or HH). And finally, if you want the jacket to be totally strong and max protected from any rains possible - go for thick and heavy Lost Worlds jackets, they're dreadnoughts for riding! Good luck and welcome!)

 

[Corsair42]

I've got a Tail Gunner in black Blattwerk, its a beautiful hide, very, very soft but robust as its still decent thickness horsehide, just the tanning process doesnt add stiffness. Its almost like suede in terms of softness. As a motorcycle jacket, due to the matt finish and tanning process i'm not sure it would work as a riding jacket, its not something that will necessarily improve as it gets battered like some leathers. I got one as a motorcycle jacket but ended up using it as a casual jacket as didnt want to ruin the leather, for ride I would be inclined to go with Horween Lux that will develop differently with weather. Blattwerk is a beautiful leather just seems to suit a lightweight casual jacket vs a rugged workhorse, will post some pics on here in the next few days.

 

[Mawashi]

Thuggee — seems like it’s been long enough I can highjack this thread (also, I want to know what happened!).

I wonder what the qualities of the Blattwerk are compared to the Horween Lux? I am planning on ordering a Tailgunner from SB and need to decide. It‘ll be a motorcycle jacket for me, so it will need to occasionally get wet...

Thanks,
Matt

Matt, Pecard might (and will) protect your jacket from some light occasional rains well. In case you want the leather to have some rain-resistance right out of the box - it's thick and heavy Aero CXL then (no matter steerhide or HH). And finally, if you want the jacket to be totally strong and max protected from any rains possible - go for thick and heavy Lost Worlds jackets, they're dreadnoughts for riding! Good luck and welcome!)

I've got a Tail Gunner in black Blattwerk, its a beautiful hide, very, very soft but robust as its still decent thickness horsehide, just the tanning process doesnt add stiffness. Its almost like suede in terms of softness. As a motorcycle jacket, due to the matt finish and tanning process i'm not sure it would work as a riding jacket, its not something that will necessarily improve as it gets battered like some leathers. I got one as a motorcycle jacket but ended up using it as a casual jacket as didnt want to ruin the leather, for ride I would be inclined to go with Horween Lux that will develop differently with weather. Blattwerk is a beautiful leather just seems to suit a lightweight casual jacket vs a rugged workhorse, will post some pics on here in the next few days.

I agree with everything here as I have some samples from Simmons. Blattwerk is a beautiful and fine leather that almost feels like velvet, it's a great leather for finer wear but it's not suitable for bike riding and rough wear. Horween chrome is a better leather for riding.

I would also check out the Simmons Facebook page as they have some great posts of riding wear that isn't available on their website.