Treating Leather

[homerdave]

50/50 bear fat and beeswax.

[NY Yankee]

There is also a silicon saddle oil you can get at tack stores or feed stores, Tractor Supply etc. I like it because it soaks in real well and softens stiff leather fast without leaving a greasy finish.

[reddogge]

If you really want to delve into leather conditioning go here.

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/crl/conservationmanual/File7.htm

Be very careful with what you put on good leather stuff, especially old leather.  I'd be carefull following some advice I've seen here on this thread too.  I have a lot of old WW2 leather and you can ruin it quickly.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Bear fat and beeswax?  How do you get the saddle on your horse?

[Ragnarok Forge]

Bear fat and beeswax?  How do you get the saddle on your horse?

[JimB]

That's funny.I went in to a little sporting goods store once to buy a license or something.I had just finished fleshing a bear and the store owner's German shepherd went nuts when he got a wiff.That dog never liked me from that day and I always had to keep an eye on him anytime I went in that place.

[NightHawk]

wd is/was made from fish oil. I know alot of old fishermen that used to spray it on their plastic worms and crank baits. I haven't used it in awhile so I'm not sure if it's still the same or not.

[wapiti]

Ballistol works wonders. I have it in the can and aerosol. Use it on everything.

I think Killdeer has the best advice, and as a leather manufacturer for 16 years ( my first career), I can absolutely concur that leather will break down with petroleum-based products over time. Vegetable oil is OK, animal oil is OK, too. Clean with saddle soap. Boots are best served with snoseal or Montana Pitch Blend (the stuff in the plastic tub, not the liquid).