Leather softener

[user 52723]

Hey guys any suggestions for softening and dulling a hard shiny leather sling I have. Great sling just uncomfortable to use, thanks.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Pure neatsfoot oil will soften the leather, but it will darken it as well.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Huberds shoe grease. There has been a can of it in the family home at least since I was about 3 or 4 years old. It even works fairly well as a patch lube although I haven't done any extensive trials with it.
https://www.huberds.com/

 

[oldwood]

Most any of the grease type leather conditioners work , if applied , and then melt into the leather with a heat gun.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

Saddle soap helps, but may not soften as much as you like. It might take sessions of rubbing it in and working the sling. Neatsfoot oil may work a bit faster.
Others may have more suggestions.

 

[bud in pa]

I have always used Sno Seal on my leather.

 

[SOLANCO]

Pecard Leather Dressing. Generous applications until it stops sinking in.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Neatsfoot oil is good, too much can rot your stitching just be careful. I oil my saddle with it, been riding the same rig for over 25 years. Wipe off the excess, that's all.

 

[Caniborrowsomeammo]

Rubbing alcohol and vaseline. Works to bring leather back after sitting and drying for years, we use it on antique basketballs and footballs. Takes a bit, but softens the leather back to its original softness.

 

[doubleset]

Lexol. Won't make it oily like neatsfoot oil does. But ultimately I don't think you can beat neatsfoot oil.

 

[pwbsmokey]

Montana Pitch Blend oil

 

[Brutus09]

Fiebings mink oil paste. Bought a Triple K Hunter’s Shoulder Holster for my Uberti 1858 New Model Army and the leather straps were a bit brittle. Put 3 or 4 coatings of mink oil paste on both sides as well as the holster and they are supple and soft.

 

[OhioHawkeye]

natural oils will rot your stitches ie neatsfoot or mink oil.... try herberts or Lexol first. I prefer Lexol for most leather and herberts for my shoes and boots. I especially like Bic4 or Ballistol. If that all doesn't work the leather is to dry with either age, or heat or both. Just like OJ Simpson's gloves, if the leather gets hot it shrinks and gets hard permanently. Slings are not hard to get, make, or have made....either way are readily available.

 

[doubleset]

natural oils will rot your stitches ie neatsfoot or mink oil

This is true (at least for some kinds of stitching material) over time, but if used as an initial softening treatment, I haven't had any problems with it (I've typically used it this way on my slings). And it's THE traditional treatment for horse tack (which is often SOAKED in it), and at least used to be the traditional treatment for baseball gloves. But I'm with in in generally preferring Lexol as a long term and repeatable solution.

 

[SOLANCO]

https://pecard.com/shop/classic/classic-leather-dressing/

 

[doubleset]

Oh, one other thing about neatsfoot oil ... You need to be careful which product you use. I THINK that the only genuine 100% neatsfoot oil left on the market is Niebing's.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Color plus Leather Restoration, Milford, PA. Used this product on leather seats in a car I restored years ago, leather would actually crumble and this stuff brought it back.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Oh, one other thing about neatsfoot oil ... You need to be careful which product you use. I THINK that the only genuine 100% neatsfoot oil left on the market is Niebing's.

They also have a silicone added product. I have used both and cannot see any difference. I am aware of the strong opposition to silicone additives because the "ain't authentic".

 

[doubleset]

I am a HUGE fan of silicone products in a variety of applications from lubricants to adhesives.

 

[Freedom]

Hey guys any suggestions for softening and dulling a hard shiny leather sling I have. Great sling just uncomfortable to use, thanks.

The leather treatment product that is best for you to use is determined somewhat by the type(s) of leather that your sling is made from. ... You sure are getting a lot of nice answers if your question had been... What is your favorite leather product....