Cool Trick For Softening Your Leather Jacket

[Deleted member 16736]

I read online about using Leatherique (which Aero swears by) and heat to make the leather absorb the conditioner better. I tried this and it worked great on a pair of boots and on a Highwayman jacket. You apply the Leatherique, then hang it outside on a hot day to dry for 5-10 hours. Don't put it in direct sunlight, just anyplace outdoors on a hot day in a sheltered area. A garage would work. I used my apartment balcony. BEWARE: The leather really absorbs the conditioner and appears to darken it more than usual. I used it on some dry patches on my Highwayman that nothing could fix and it took it right out. The jacket is not only back to its original deep brown color, but it's considerably softer.

Try it. Good luck.

 

[Tomasso]

The stuff has amazing restorative power. I've used it on all types of leather items.

 

[flyfishark]

Here are three vintage coats from etsy. Since I don't know vintage clothing, I'm not certain anyone is interested, but they seem like good deals to me. Please note that I am NOT the seller, I just came across them and thought they looked good.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72821077/vintage-1950s-mcgregor-genuine-snow
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72540676/zero-king-vintage-mens-overcoat-size-44
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73295524/vintage-storm-tamer-1950s-60s-womans

 

[Tomasso]

??????[huh]

 

[flyfishark]

forgive me for placing this information in the wrong place. Bartender, please remove it. Thanks.

 

[ButteMT61]

Are you kidding me? Is that for real? Leatherique only? That is amazing.

The stuff has amazing restorative power. I've used it on all types of leather items.

 

[Windward]

Before I would try it by myself on one of my jacket have to see your highwayman first ... any pics please!!!!!!

 

[frussell]

To someone who used to work with leather a great deal, this is not a news flash. Heat definitely makes most good leather conditioners penetrate better. You still have to worry about over-saturation with things like mink oil, neatsfoot oil, and other greasy treatments. Many of the "oil" products will rot stitching and sometimes make leather too greasy to wear. I used to heat my personal favorite product, RM Williams Saddle Dressing, just a bit before putting it on new boots, a pair of chaps, or my saddle. Definitely helps it sink in quicker. If it was sunny, I'd just plop my saddle out in the sun to apply. If not, a short turn in the microwave of just the product would work just as well. I've never used Leatherique, but I would think that you might get a little more darkening than normal, because it will soak in quicker, but that it would not be permanent, and would lighten up with more wear. I would use this method sparingly with a leather jacket, making sure it didn't soak through into your lining, which I've seen before. Nothing more fun to wear than a leather jacket with a perpetually damp, leaky, greasy lining. Thanks, Frank

 

[Windward]

Look at the before and after pic - have to say the after pic is more reddish - so you put a lot of reddish color to it simply to bring out the original colour....

 

[Deleted member 16736]

To someone who used to work with leather a great deal, this is not a news flash. Heat definitely makes most good leather conditioners penetrate better. You still have to worry about over-saturation with things like mink oil, neatsfoot oil, and other greasy treatments. Many of the "oil" products will rot stitching and sometimes make leather too greasy to wear. I used to heat my personal favorite product, RM Williams Saddle Dressing, just a bit before putting it on new boots, a pair of chaps, or my saddle. Definitely helps it sink in quicker. If it was sunny, I'd just plop my saddle out in the sun to apply. If not, a short turn in the microwave of just the product would work just as well. I've never used Leatherique, but I would think that you might get a little more darkening than normal, because it will soak in quicker, but that it would not be permanent, and would lighten up with more wear. I would use this method sparingly with a leather jacket, making sure it didn't soak through into your lining, which I've seen before. Nothing more fun to wear than a leather jacket with a perpetually damp, leaky, greasy lining. Thanks, Frank

Thanks, Frank. I appreciate your comments. I know I wasn't sharing any secrets, I just wanted to share my experience. And already the leather is lightening back up. And no bleeding into the lining, but thank you for the tip.

What do you recommend for leather jackets?

 

[frussell]

Joel, I've used R.M. Williams, which works well, but has a slight waterproofing effect that some may not want on their leather, and may darken just a hair, temporarily. Other products I like for lightweight leathers (meaning thinner than boot or saddle leather) are Skidmore's, Ray Holes Vaquero Rawhide Cream (which is great because most rawhide collectors don't want their items darkened, and it's super gentle), and a cream called BlackRock Leather N Rich. The Black Rock was recommended to me by an auctioneer who frequently sells antique/historical saddles and tack. I used it to restore a saddle that was left in a barn for about 50 years and was pretty dry and nasty. I tend to shy away from saddle soaps and products that are glycerin based, as they seem to inhibit future treatments. If I need to clean leather, I'll wipe it down with a damp cloth, then apply leather conditioner. I also had poor results with Lexol, but that's just me. All the products I used are best a little at a time. Most of them will not oversaturate, and you just wipe off the excess. If memory serves, the most gentle smelling one is the Ray Holes product. BlackRock looks nasty, grey and slimy, but goes on neutral and the smell fades quickly. Hope you get good results. Frank

 

[frussell]

While I was searching for another BlackRock product, I noticed that U.S. Wings also sells the Leather N Rich on their site, so I'm not the only one. Frank

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Thanks, Frank. I'll check out BlackRock. The fading came back a little anyway.

How do I know if my conditioner is glycerin based? They never tell you what's in it!

 

[frussell]

Lots of popular saddle soaps use glycerin. Nothing really wrong with glycerin, but like Lexol (at least in my experience, others love it and recommend it highly), those products work great but the next time you want to treat the leather, the conditioner doesn't penetrate as well, or penetrates unevenly. The crummy thing is most websites only show you the front of the bottle, and rarely name ingredients. Some products might have beeswax, which I don't mind at all. I like having my leather shed water rather than soak it up, and the beeswax doesn't seem to keep future treatments from sinking in. I know the RM Williams used to have (may still, don't have one on hand) rendered animal fat, or tallow, which sounds gross, but our ancestors knew it was good stuff, and used it for a reason. Good luck to you. Frank