Oiling leather

[jtmattison]

Is it o.k. to treat leather with beeswax/olive oil for preserving/waterproofing?
I have been using beeswax/olive oil (my homemade RB patch lube) on leather straps and small things but I'm wondering if it is good to use on larger things like bags/pouches.

HD

 

[tmdreb]

Try a mix of beeswax, beef tallow and fish oil. It works just fine for me.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I use Neats Foot Oil. Make sure it says "pure". If it says "prime" it has mineral oil in it and that isnt what you want.

Pure neats foot oil is rendered from the leg bones of cattle, and is an old traditional leather preservative.

 

[jtmattison]

Try a mix of beeswax, beef tallow and fish oil. It works just fine for me.

I use Neats Foot Oil. Make sure it says "pure". If it says "prime" it has mineral oil in it and that isnt what you want.

Pure neats foot oil is rendered from the leg bones of cattle, and is an old traditional leather preservative.

So is my beeswax and olive oil mix a bad idea? I know there are a ton of leather treatments out there. I was wondering if beeswax and olive oil are good for treating leather.

HD

 

[DNICK]

Was going to start a topic on this but once again someone beat me to it what I have been trying is using stumpys moose snot as patch lube "works great" and also as leather conitioner-water proofer so far it looks like a winner if anyone else has been trying this let me know how its working for you.

 

So is my beeswax and olive oil mix a bad idea? I know there are a ton of leather treatments out there. I was wondering if beeswax and olive oil are good for treating leather.
HD

Beeswax and olive oil are a fine mix for leather, olive oil and beeswax have been used in various combinations as a leather conditioner since the ancient Greeks.
With any oil based conditioner less is more - OVER oiling with any type oil is as bad for leather as under conditioning. In my 40+ year career (no brag just info) I have repaired thousands of pieces of leather goods and OVER oiling has been the number one cause if failure. Leather is best with an oil content no higher than 18-20%, over that and it weakens or even "explodes" the cell walls causing failure. Neats foot oil, while an excellent conditioner when applied in THIN, LIGHT coats, is a major culprit when over applied since it is a "heavy" oil.


as always others mileage will vary..

 

[Capt. Jas.]

What about salt content in the olive oil?

 

[LRB]

Quality olive oil should not contain salt.

 

[kayja]

if possible, get pure neatsfoot oil..
Farm Tractor sells prime neatsfoot for 12 plus a gallon and i see a lot of people are using it on saddles, bridles,ect.

 

[shortbow]

I started getting my leather work together after reading a great story on in it Book of Buckskinning years ago. Can't remember the author's name, but he said neatsfoot oil COMPOUND will rot leather, while the pure stuff is okey dokey. Having said that, I have used olive oil and beeswax for about the last ten years with good effect, no problems.

 

That's the ticket. Neats Foot will make leather last forever. You don't have to worry about the right mix of wax to oil or none of that stuff. Just put it on once or twice a year and the leather looks great. Nice and supple and the learther will not sweat oil in the heat of summer. As long as you don't overdo it!