Mink Oil?

[pepperbelly]

I couldn't find the proper forum for this question, and since I wear boots when shooting they could be an accessory.
How often do you need to treat leather boots with mink oil to waterproof them? I wear them while working, outside, and I treated them before a big rain here. I didn't treat them after and today I noticed damp socks after walking through wet grass.
Also, does mink oil have any BP uses? Patch lube?
Jim

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yep. Mink oil is a fine patch lube.

One of the best for very cold weather (next to my brews, of course. :haha

I have owned leather boots that went five years without leaking, and others that were hopeless sieves after two months. Depends on the original treatment (silicone permeated), stitching, liner (Sympatex or Gore-Tex, etc.), and wear creases. Treat them as often as necessary - which might be after every use.

I've never seen a study on this, but I find wet grass to cause more leaks than stepping into a creek. I don't know if it is because the exposure lasts longer or the rubbing action pushes the water in, but I'm convinced it is true.

 

[Darkhorse]

The Mink Oil sold by Track of the Wolf is pure, 100% mink oil. It is good smelly stuff and I use it as a hunting or cold weather patch lube.
The Mink oil used for boot dressing is a little different, not only does it contain Mink Oil but a lot of other ingredients that may or may not be friendly when exposed to burning powder inside a barrel.
Anyway, I stopped using Mink Oil on boots a long time ago. I now buy my boot dressings from Cabelas which contain a good amount of silicone.

 

[Slowpoke]

Milk oil is fantastic as a patch lube.... just remember not to use to much. Just a little bit on your patch goes a long way. Plus while you're in your stand you can work a little bit into your boots to ensure they're waterproof. I've always used pure mink oil on my boots. I didn't know any better, thanks DHorse. I'll look for the other stuff.

SP

 

[rabjr]

I'm a wonderin if it would be benefical to mix some mink oil with bear oil and beeswax?

 

I oil my whites about every other year and have never had a problem with water getting into my feet , infact i have stood in water above my ankle and only gotten my feet cold but not wet .
how are you applying the mink oil?
i was brought up with the heat meathod of holding the boot over a hot plate and once the heat was felt inside applying the oil tell it will not soak into the leather , then re heat and do again tell the oil will not even soak in hot .
i always also make sure to get alot around the seams ,, this is where the water gets in ,,, not through the leather ,.
my last set of whites i bought in 88 for fighting forest fires and treated this way ,,, the uppers are still like new

 

[RussB]

This thread is right in line with my own thoughts on some of the "homebrewed" lubes I've put together.

I bought twelve (12) cans of Sno-Seal (Boot treatment) at $1.00 a can this past spring, just to use for bullet lube mix. Seemed like a good deal at the time, so I took all they had.

I have only played a little with this stuff because shooting it straight out the can, just rubbed into the patch, does a pretty good job just as it is. My though was to thin it a bit with Lanolin but it seems ok just as it is.

I have a can of MCM I use on my Musket Minies, and for the life of me I can't tell the difference...MCM runs about $8.00 a can, Sno-Seal cost me a $1.00...guess what!

Russ

 

[pepperbelly]

Captchee I just rub it in using a rag. I never thought to warm the boots. After rubbing it in I wait a little while and wipe down the boots.
I looked around after starting this post and read about the difference between real mink oil and the stuff I buy for my boots. I had started thinking about all the different stuff people use for patch lube. The mink oil I use is in a cake form. It seemed to be an easy way to take it and just wipe the patch over it.
There are so many different lubes talked about it seems like any non-petroleum stuff that is slick will work. :>)
I'll end up doing what I always do- read what everyone else does, pick the one I like best and run with it.
Jim

 

I have a pair of Redwing 8" lace-ups that are 22 years old. I know this because they were purchased just before my oldest son was born. I put mink oil on them before breaking in and have made a habit of recoating at least twice a year. I wear these boots at least two or three times a week - sometimes more when I'm hunting. The foam padding on the tops is about gone and there are a couple of small holes in the uppers, so they leak when I walk through a wet field but I have never owned any footwear that's more comfortable. I looked at new ones but they don't have the same soles - the old ones are very soft rubber with a flat boot heel and smooth sole. I don't know what I'm going to do when they finally give up the ghost - maybe switch to moccasins...