Leather preservation

koldt said:
....

The question of leather preservation and restoration has been a topic of many curator’s discussions. Not many definitive answers either through anecdotal discussion or study.
Click to expand...

I agree that this discussion will not end with one product recommendation or another. Leather is a biological product that stopped living the moment it came off the cow; the choices are what kind of downhill bike ride you want?
 
tiriaq said:
The sling is on a Boer Mauser. It hasn't been touched in decades. The sling is important because the Boer owner carved his name in it. The sling needs to be preserved as an historical artifact - not as something to carry the rifle.
Click to expand...

The sling in question.

47781262-1.jpg

47781262-4.jpg
 
My experience is that you can preserve leather with any of a wide variety of commercial products. That means preserve the current condition. None that I have found will restore leather that has dried out and lost it’s strength and suppleness. It seems that once leather loses it’s integrity it’s gone forever.
 
I restored a pair of First World War officer's leather gaiters / puttees, Sam Browne belt, shoulder strap and ammunition pouch that were dry, brittle, mouldy & thought to be unsalvageable. The owner let me work on them as he thought there was nothing to lose no matter what happened.

Over a period of a week & a half, I did 3 sessions with saddle soap. Now they are able to be opened & put on, if you have small enough calves & waist, that is.

Also worked on a number of sets of case straps from oak & leather gun cases thought to be too far gone.
 
Most museums used to use a product called PECAR
Apparently neatsfoot oil will burn the leather fibers..
Just my 02 and I used a small sample of PECAR and it was good stuff.
 
You probably want to research what the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. recommends for leather care, which may or may not be anything and might be the environment it is stored in.

Lots of good and bad advice is given on the Internet and the last thing you want is to damage your old artifact.

tiriaq said:
What can be used to soften, preserve and protect old, stiff, dried out leather?
Click to expand...
 
100% olive oil works very well, have been putting it on saddles and boots for years and lots of old cowboys use to recommend it to me. It will darken leather like neatsfoot oil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom