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Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 4:15:59 PM

ThunderRoad

Posts: 231
Joined: 3/15/2006
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Last time we were at a conference, we picked up a relatively inexpensive set of leather wrist and ankle cuffs. We haven't used them much just of of happenstance (mostly since we have some soft-leather suspension cuffs we usually use). In any case, we got a new hogtie harness and want to mess with them a bit now, but we had forgotten how stiff they are.

Is there a good way to take fairly-stiff leather and soften it up if the cuffs are already assembled? These aren't super-expensive, but they are good quality, jist pretty hard/stiff.

Post #: 1

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 5:46:17 PM

adoracat

Posts: 1779
Joined: 2/16/2007
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saddle soap and mink oil will both help soften hard leather. the thing is....it takes repeated applications and is a lot of (well-worth it) work.

kitten

(in reply to ThunderRoad)

Post #: 2

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 6:50:33 PM

Phin

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Joined: 2/26/2007
Status: offline

get the stuff used to soften baseball gloves, just remember you have to work the leather like you would a baseball glove

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Post #: 3

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 7:30:23 PM

azropedntied

Posts: 1829
Joined: 7/25/2005
From: Phx AZ
Status: offline

if you have a equine tack shop near you get some Lexol spray , i love that stuff . I have a pair of gauntlet style glove s and they were dried out from the day i bought them from a vendor at the renn faire . But they were a great deal so i thought i would try the ole lexol on them , and now they are buttery silky soft .Sometimes like my gloves the leather is dried out so lay it out and spray and allow the product to work its way in VS just put on and wipe off .

(in reply to Phin)

Post #: 4

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 7:49:49 PM

LouFu

Posts: 3
Joined: 11/12/2007
Status: offline

The best way to spften leather that I know is just working the leather, think of massaging it.. I do this with horse tack while watching telly.

(in reply to azropedntied)

Post #: 5

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 9:36:50 PM

roughleather

Posts: 232
Joined: 11/11/2004
Status: offline

Hydrophane Leather Dressing.

It's a silicone oil, and waterproofs without staining. No need to rub it in; just paint it on with a paintbrush and give it a day to soak in. I use it for tack and leather jackets. Much cheaper than mink oil, doesn't stain like neats-foot oil.

(in reply to ThunderRoad)

Post #: 6

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 10:02:50 PM

Elegant

Posts: 1024
Joined: 3/15/2005
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The proper 'softening' method and product is somewhat dependant on the type of leather and the construction. Who did you buy them from? (might give me an idea of leather and construction)

Leather conditioning in general. The following information is from years of continuous research:

Mink Oil: Not the best conditioner for most leather. It is more of a waterproofing agent and often used on winter hiking boots. Some mink oil products have filler ingredients which may be detrimental to leather.

Neetsfoot Oil: A "neat" is a beef animal, and this oil used to be made out of cow hooves, hence the name. Now it is made from the hooves of a variety of animals. It is heavy oil and is known to rot cotton stitching on leather items that have been sewn.Can stain lighter leather and has been know to become rancid quickly.

Lexol Products: I personally do not recommend Lexol products. They contain chemical emulsifying agents that could be harm leather.

Saddle Soap: While the container does state 'cleans and conditions' saddle soap is very alkaline which actually damages leather..hence a proper conditioning product needs to be applied after using and rinsing saddle soap. Saddle soap is like face soap...wash and rinse!

Products With Silicone: Silicone does not condition leather. Silicone prevents leather from breathing and provides more hardness and stiffening. It is usually only appropriate for wet weather gear such as damp weather horse tack and winter boots.

Beeswax Base Conditioners: I use these regularly. Little chance of rancidity and seldom darkens leather (unless extremely light leather). Most professional whipmakers suggest beeswax based conditioners. My favorite is Aussie Leather Conditioner.

Pine Pitch Conditioner: Most experienced bootblacks (myself included) live for Huberd's Boot Grease. It will darken lightter leathers but is lovely for oil tanned leather.

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(in reply to ThunderRoad)

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RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 10:19:10 PM

Leatherist

Posts: 5149
Joined: 12/11/2007
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Excellent info, thank you!

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Post #: 8

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 10:26:39 PM

lucern

Posts: 54
Joined: 11/13/2004
Status: offline

Thanks guys and gals, especially Elegant...I got a mask off of eBay that's pretty painful to wear. Now I have a few things to try on it. And even more things NOT to try on it.

< Message edited by lucern -- 3/3/2008 10:27:01 PM >

(in reply to Elegant)

Post #: 9

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/3/2008 10:38:25 PM

BootBlackBlast

Posts: 378
Joined: 10/23/2006
Status: offline

I usually massage mine with Huberd's Boot Grease or Aussie Leather Dressing or Chelsea Leather Food. After a thorough massaging with those products I add a little extra and then just wear them around the house whenever I have the chance. As a bootblack, you will never find a Lexol product, mink oil, or neatsfoot oil in my kit. The only silicone you'll find is small packets of silicone lube to polish my rubber brothers and sisters and to hand out to those lucky family members who are actually going to get some.

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(in reply to Elegant)

Post #: 10

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/4/2008 4:08:33 AM

Taboo4Two

Posts: 170
Joined: 1/1/2004
From: NH, TX
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elegant
Beeswax Base Conditioners: I use these regularly. Little chance of rancidity and seldom darkens leather (unless extremely light leather). Most professional whipmakers suggest beeswax based conditioners. My favorite is Aussie Leather Conditioner.

Here is a link to the Fiebing web site. http://www.fiebing.com/product.asp?typeID=3

It really is great stuff. I would suggest that if the leather is very dry you first wet it to open the pores. This way the conditioner will absorb deeply and not just sit on the surface.

Domino

(in reply to Elegant)

Post #: 11

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/4/2008 8:21:30 AM

mnottertail

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Joined: 11/3/2004
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I am surprised that no one has said Pecards Leather dressing.

Ron

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Post #: 12

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/4/2008 8:46:59 PM

BootBlackBlast

Posts: 378
Joined: 10/23/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mnottertail

I am surprised that no one has said Pecards Leather dressing.

Ron

I find that Pecards is harder to find around the Bay Area than most places and when using it, I don't find it any better than Huberd's Boot Grease or Chelsea Leather Food. And depending on the type of leather occassionally Dubbin is my conditioner of choice but it is also becoming harder and harder to find, and the recipes have been changing lately as well.

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Leather Rubbin and Dubbin

Bootblack Blast
Mama's Blast

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Post #: 13

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/7/2008 12:01:29 AM

bobinchains

Posts: 21
Joined: 3/6/2008
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I think someone already mentioned it but what I do with my leather is "need it and bend it"a bit until it becomes soft.

(in reply to ThunderRoad)

Post #: 14

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/14/2008 9:06:04 AM

Kitte9

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Joined: 11/26/2006
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*scribbles down information while thinking of ways to use aforementioned products*

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RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/14/2008 9:42:45 AM

Leatherist

Posts: 5149
Joined: 12/11/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kitte9

*scribbles down information while thinking of ways to use aforementioned products*

Seriously, the beeswax lotions are the best advice..

The next best is to spend a bit more from a quality maker-who will provide the product in a usable state-rather than just focusing on just cranking a bunch of lowball gear out the door as fast as possible.

You DO get what you pay for.

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My shop is currently segueing into production mode.

I'm not taking custom orders.

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Post #: 16

RE: Softening leather cuffs - 3/14/2008 10:36:36 AM

ThunderRoad

Posts: 231
Joined: 3/15/2006
Status: offline

Oh I know we do. They were cheap and we just wanted "something". We have a nice softer pair on our list of things we need.

(in reply to Leatherist)

Post #: 17

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