leather dressing

[Clyde Mikkola]

I bought a part of straight last shoes that need breaking in. Does anyone know the process and an historically accurate concoction I can use to treat the leather?

 

[Norskie]

Water will help you reshape the leather to fit your foot. Walk through a stream and let the shoes dry on your feet. Traditional leather dressings include tallow, lanolin, neatsfoot oil, beeswax, bear grease and mink fat.
I use saddle soap, followed by neatsfoot, followed by a blend of tallow and beswax. I'm experimenting with adding pine pitch to the tallow/beewax, but I won't put it on a customer's leather until I give it a trial on my stuff.

 

[Clyde Mikkola]

Thank you, Sir. That is just what I needed.