"Polishing" Leather

[mrfritz44]

My old man, RIP, made this leather bag for me when I was about 12 years old and it hasn't seen much use as I opted for a more modern bag in recent years to preserve the one he made in 1984.

I just upgraded it with the arrowhead I bought in Utah on a backpacking trip with my son a few years ago, but other than that it's almost as old as me.

Since I plan to use it again in about a month in the late PA late season hunts, I was wondering how I can get that polished satin leather look in a hurry as I'm sure it's more weather proof than the porous leather currently.

Any aging/weatherproofing techniques you would recommend aside from the basic mink oil application I'm thinking are due?

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

I’m a huge mink oil fan. I put two coats per year in my bags and boots. It softens, moistens and protects.

 

[French Colonial]

Leather-N-Rich, out of Pekin IL, best leather dressing you will ever find.

 

[Juice Jaws]

I’m a huge mink oil fan. I put two coats per year in my bags and boots. It softens, moistens and protects.

I like mink oil also but find it strange never found a mink who was in favor of it.

 

[Beaverman2]

My old man, RIP, made this leather bag for me when I was about 12 years old and it hasn't seen much use as I opted for a more modern bag in recent years to preserve the one he made in 1984.

I just upgraded it with the arrowhead I bought in Utah on a backpacking trip with my son a few years ago, but other than that it's almost as old as me.

Since I plan to use it again in about a month in the late PA late season hunts, I was wondering how I can get that polished satin leather look in a hurry as I'm sure it's more weather proof than the porous leather currently.

Any aging/weatherproofing techniques you would recommend aside from the basic mink oil application I'm thinking are due?

have used this for 45 years, the best PERIOD!
https://shop.whitesboots.com/conditioning/whites-heavy-duty-leather-preservative-8-oz./

 

[wiscoaster]

I like Bick 4 leather conditioner. It's my first choice go-to for leather:
https://bickmore.com/products/bick-4-leather-conditioner-16oz

 

[Whitworth]

Pecard's Leather Dressing.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I would use the heck out of it as is and let it age, that is one beautiful bag.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Neatsfoot oil.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Neatsfoot oil may darken it up so test a bit first.

I recently sprayed my leather mukluks with with Ballistol...soaked it up and no water getting in....not the recommended use but it says it's good for most anything....

 

[Two Feathers]

For what it's worth, I swear by Leather Balm with Atom Wax. Been using it for years. I use it on everything I make from leather. You can get it at Weaver Leather Supply Co, OR do a google search. A lot of companies sell it, Even Walmart or so the search says?
It might come in colors? I use Neutral. That's your best bet. I think it would work great on the gorgeous bag. Your dad "done good."
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[The Miner '49er]

Neutral paste shoe polish?

 

[French Colonial]

This is getting as bad as asking for someone's favorite lube recipe

 

[smo]

Just use Bear grease, it’ll work for patch lube & leather dressing…

 

[Tom A Hawk]

After reviewing the OP I'm not sure that polishing is the correct term. "Polishing" connotes imparting a luster or sheen and leather supply houses such as Tandy have many products available to do that. Photos of some "polished" items that I have made follow below.

Since the bag appears to be a suede leather perhaps it does not require any sort of treatment.

 

[smo]

I thought it looked like veg tan with one side rough?

But I agree more info from the op would be helpful explaining what he wants..

 

[mrfritz44]

Stressed or weathered would have been better terms to use in hindsight as I wanted to achieve a used look with a sheen.

Probably unorthodox to do, but I remembered some "art" I learned in bookcamp 30 years ago and tried some black and brown Kiwi shoe polish wax with some heavy buffing with a brush.

I got the effect I wanted but I still need to see how it holds up and takes mink oil to keep the leather soft.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Use the heck out of it in all weather until it looks rode hard and put up wet.

 

[mrfritz44]

For what it's worth, the bag took the mink oil fine and shed hardly any polish on my hand.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I make a paste of bear oil and beeswax. I heat it gently in a double boiler and apply with a toothbrush. Then I use a hair dryer to melt it into the leather. then Buff to a shine. My hunting boots get this treatment twice a year and have never leaked.

ADK Bigfoot