RAF Care

[Caber]

I am a new owner of a aero pre war RAF. I wanted to ask the vets of the RAFs here a question or two.
How do you keep the shearling from getting all matted up and is there a way to clean it?

Is it normal for the shearling around the sleeve cuffs to wear down pretty quickly ?

 

[GJ nord]

I'm not sure if the RAF had a veterinary section as such tbh
what are you doing in it/to it to get it all matted up? soap and water I'd have thought to clean it and by wear down at the cuffs do you mean malting like a dog or just pressed more flat? posting photos may help get answers....

 

[Peacoat]

Yes, photos will help the members better understand the problem.

Welcome to the Lounge. PC

 

[Dumpster Diver]

You know like that Brush you use for your Cat? That kinda works to tease the wool, but be gentle and don't "brush" the wool so much as fluff or tease it, but that isn't going to keep the wool "Poofy" for too long, a couple weeks maybe, then it Just goes back to being matted and the brush does pick up a ball of wool for sure so you're doing the jacket no favours by removing some of the fleece, honestly? honestly.....Just wear the Jacket naturally, it's going to get matted, enjoy the look of a well worn Jacket, so many guys here complain their RAF Flight Jackets have too much of a "Teddy bear" quality to the fleece, so I think it's a fine line, subjectively.

I have a "Lived in Jacket" thats for hacking around, and a "Keeper" that I do my best to sunday drive and look after and care for.

The best rule to follow is don't clean the wool unless you absolutely have to!

If the wool smells of moth balls or is heavily soiled or smells of mildew, I use a spray bottle and dab some "Euchalan" on it, which is a good product that works well for wool things. My Mom is a professional Felt maker, she will use "Euchalan" all you need is a thimble sized amount with a spray bottle of water, spray, dab with a towel, air dry..fresh as a daisy and it will not damage the natural oils in the wool apparently.

 

[Caber]

I'm not sure if the RAF had a veterinary section as such tbh
what are you doing in it/to it to get it all matted up? soap and water I'd have thought to clean it and by wear down at the cuffs do you mean malting like a dog or just pressed more flat? posting photos may help get answers....

Yes malting. The puffy part has worn off on the bottom side. All I'm really doing in it is wearing it out to work and driving in it. I'm not doing anything abusive or taxing on the jacket. The spot that is wearing down is on the under side of the cuff, so I'm guessing its due to laying my arms/wrist on surfaces. Ill try to post a picture today or tomorrow

The jacket is not matting up just yet. I am asking what to do because I had a shearling liner in a bootlegger a while back and the shearling around the neck got so matted up that it became uncomfortable. I never could get it to soften up and I figured with time the shearling may do the same with the RAF

 

[Caber]

 

[Caber]

The above images have the worn spot. It doesn’t look bad but I don’t remember it being like that 5 weeks ago when I got the jacket and I don’t want it to get worse if possible

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Getting worse?...you mean Better?

Wool shrinks, it gets piled and matted, natural...it's fine, don't worry, enjoy your Awesome Jacket!!!

The fleece was part of a living breathing barn yard animal that spends the majority of it's life rolling around in the muck outdoors.

You want to nurse it? Don't wear it driving, that will add many years of life to the Jacket.

Take it off before you sit down at your desk or table, not much else I can really say, Try not to let the sleeve drape over your wrists, but then again an irvin Jacket

Sometimes one cuff gets bald and the other doesn't depends on the sheepskin, sometimes it's a thinner piece and sometimes not...depends where it was growing on the sheep I guess?

 

[Caber]

So basically nothing to be worried about? Got it. Thank you

 

[Dumpster Diver]

If you're gentle on it, sure!!

If you wear it like a work jacket, it might get a hole or two, wear and tear.

My left sleeve always seems to wear a little more than the right for some reason.

 

[Caber]

I wear it to work but I do not work in it. I only wear it when its cold. Once it warms up I wear one of my other jackets

 

[Deacon211]

I have an ELC pre-war Irvin. It has the same issues with wear around the sleeves. However, it hasn’t progressed farther around the perimeter than the bottom and I’ve had the jacket for years.

I also have a B-6 with a good bit of matting and sleeve wear. Just like my Irvin the wear happened relatively quickly after receiving the jacket, but tapered off and failed to progress over
time.

My B-6 did mat somewhat. Taking fairly good care of it, it appears more “nubby” than matted like in old shag rug. It’s not a unattractive look. And flight jackets always look better broken in.

My Irvin, being newer and with thicker fleece, is only beginning to mat. Actually, as ELC Irvins look like you are being eaten by a bear, I’ve long awaited some break in and flattening.

In short, I think you’ll find the wear to taper off somewhat and not be too noticeable as the jacket breaks in. It will be many years before the shearling truly mats and, being good quality, Aero’s sheepskin should age gracefully. Finally, as long as you don’t get the jacket actually “dirty”, you should never
need to wash it or fluff it in any substantial way.

IMO.

 

[Caber]

I have an ELC pre-war Irvin. It has the same issues with wear around the sleeves. However, it hasn’t progressed farther around the perimeter than the bottom and I’ve had the jacket for years.

I also have a B-6 with a good bit of matting and sleeve wear. Just like my Irvin the wear happened relatively quickly after receiving the jacket, but tapered off and failed to progress over
time.

My B-6 did mat somewhat. Taking fairly good care of it, it appears more “nubby” than matted like in old shag rug. It’s not a unattractive look. And flight jackets always look better broken in.

My Irvin, being newer and with thicker fleece, is only beginning to mat. Actually, as ELC Irvins look like you are being eaten by a bear, I’ve long awaited some break in and flattening.

In short, I think you’ll find the wear to taper off somewhat and not be too noticeable as the jacket breaks in. It will be many years before the shearling truly mats and, being good quality, Aero’s sheepskin should age gracefully. Finally, as long as you don’t get the jacket actually “dirty”, you should never
need to wash it or fluff it in any substantial way.

IMO.

excellent information. thank you very much