Neatsfoot oil vs compound

[longcruise]

Today i encountered on a thread here on the forum a statement to the effect to use neatsfoot oil on leather and never neatsfoot compound. This is not the first time I've seen/heard this stated.

So, my questions are; why? and what's the difference?

I don't have an opinion on this nor am I trying to start a debate. Just would like to hear the pros and cons from the "pros".

The only inquiry I've ever made on this was at the Tandy store and when asked, the store employee told me that neatsfoot oil could eventually contribute to the bio breakdown of the leather whereas the compound would not. I got no idea>

 

[gmww]

I wish I could give you an answer. My late father used to have us use it on leather. Not wanting to be disrespectful I didn't ask, "why"? I can tell you have some old leather boots that I used the oil on that are still doing quite well.

Edit: I just checked the stuff we've used and it's Neats Foot Oil Compound. We've always called it Neats Foot Oil for short I guess.

 

[LRB]

Neatsfoot oil compound contains petroleum oils with the neatsfoot. Many leather workers believe this to be detrimental to the leather with long term use, and some believe it attacks the stitching. I honestly don't know that to be a fact, but would think it best to replace natural animal oils with animal oils. I was also told by a rancher years ago, that the compound also contains sulfur. If that is true, not saying it is, I would think that would not be good for the leather either. If the compound works for you, then use it, but I would rather not.
Just a side note, however this leans toward being contradictory to the subject. I needed a six gun holster back in the early eighties. Someone had left me with an old dried up holster a few years before, and not having anything else on hand, and seeing it as an experiment, I drowned it in 30 weight non-detergent motor oil. It softened up nicely, and I am still using it, and it has not deteriorated at all in 27 years. I even repeated the soaking maybe 15 years ago, so who really knows?

 

[fatboy]

Maybe someone needs to find out from them they make they should be able to give you a ansewer, but that doesnt mean it will be a correct one

 

[Arrowhead]

Don't have a clue about neatsfoot oil compound because I've never used it. I have used quite a bit of plain neatsfoot oil and it is a good product for keeping leather soft and pliable. I found water to wash it out of boots rather quickly.

My occupation for many years was oilfield welder and I maintained several waterflood projects over the years. This involved wading around in a lot of water and mud as lots of leaks occured in systems injecting produce water. Produce water contains salt, iron sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and a few other nasty chemicals. I wore Red Wing boots and doped them with motor oil to keep them waterproof. I experimented with a few other products over the years but never found anything to do a better job. I never had to replace a pair of boots because of failure of the leather uppers. I could wear a pair for years until there was not enough insole left to keep resoleing them.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Neatsfoot oil is just that. The coumpound has mineral spirits and other additives. For use on saddles the pure oil definately was superior.But I never noticed the coumpound harming the leather.

 

[longcruise]

Thanks for all the replys on this. I've been using the compound for a couple years now and still have the better part of a quart left. Guess I'll keep using it.

 

[John Wasmuth]

You might be better of with Lexol rather neats foot oil, or compound. Lexol contains tanning oils with added stuff to help penetrate the leater better.

 

[longcruise]

Never heard of Lexol? Where is it sold?

 

[LaBonte]

Lexol Conditioner is what you want and it is sold at most any feed store, leather shop, etc.

BTW - according to the manufacturers Lexol is a proprietary synthesized sperm whale oil made from veg/animal sources (probably one ingredient is jojoba which is veg analog of spermwhale oil)- keep meaning to try it as a patch lube.

Like any other leather care product DO NOT over do it - too much oil/conditioner can and will ruin leather.

As to ths use of mineral oil (a petroleum product)- I'm just an old fashioned leather craftsman and prefer conditioners made from animal (lard, tallow, etc) or vegetable (EVOO) sources, but then again many people swear by products such as Ballistol which has a high grade mineral oil base.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Agreed, when it comes to oil, a "Little dab will do ya".