how to take care of leather?

cigarmonkel · 07-08-2012, 01:29 PM

Hi everyone!

So my uncle passed away awhile ago and he left me with some of my grandfathers WWII stuff including his original leather bomber jacket along with a remake of it down to the stitching and inside tags of the jacket. I however, have no idea how to take care of it; if i need to put a special oil on it? keep it in a dark cool place? how often should i oil it if at all? any help would be much appreciated as I would HATE to see my grandpas original bomber jacket dry up and die.

Thanks in advance!

Jasonw560 · 07-08-2012, 01:47 PM

Find out what kind of leather it is. If it's authentic, it's probably sheepskin. Find a good saddle soap, amd clean it with that. As long as it's compatable with porous leather. Store it in a cool, dry place on a padded hanger. There's lots of home recipes for making stuff that should protect the leather. Or ask someone who deals in leather what's good.

cigarmonkel · 07-08-2012, 01:55 PM

awesome thanks!

themoneycollector · 07-08-2012, 02:15 PM

I would condition it with lexol or leather honey conditioner every 4-6 months. Just put some on a soft cloth and wipe it down.

Weelok · 07-08-2012, 03:27 PM

Sounds like some good advice above. For car leather, you definitely need to oil it and I do so about once a month. If you don't, it will fade and crack. It's apples and oranges as a comparison I grant you as cars get exposed to sun and high temperatures. Also, the leather in my car I wouldn't really call leather so it's not near as durable as real leather.

My take away would be periodic gentle cleaning using a micro fibre cloth and a good leather conditioner would be appropriate. You could probably get what you need on Amazon. I can't recommend a conditioner as I'd be hesitant to use the ones I use for my car, Meguiar's Gold Leather Conditioner, unless you get some real leather expert to OK it's use.

Col. Kurtz · 07-08-2012, 03:30 PM

Drop a note to the Smithsonian and see what they recommend. IIRC, they use Ballistol...

Weelok · 07-08-2012, 03:38 PM

Here are some forum posts that seem to say you may be fine with Meguiars
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...er-Jacket-care

Test a small section first as one post complained his leather turned greenish on Amazon.

cigarmonkel · 07-17-2012, 01:35 PM

awesome thanks for all the help guys! My grandfathers jacket will definitely stay in good condition now thanks to you all!

fencefixer · 07-17-2012, 01:41 PM

Just make sure you do a little bit at a time more often and not cake it on thick at once. It'll take a little bit of time until it's all absorbed. I personally use beeswax leather conditioner but YMMV.

markem · 07-17-2012, 01:48 PM

Call or write Langlitz leathers. They make about the best leather products around and are often involved in restorations and the making of movie gear.

http://www.langlitz.com/

07-08-2012, 01:29 PM	#1
cigarmonkel User Title goes here Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: a2/ypsi. in the mitten Posts: 1,594 Trading: (32)	how to take care of leather? Hi everyone! So my uncle passed away awhile ago and he left me with some of my grandfathers WWII stuff including his original leather bomber jacket along with a remake of it down to the stitching and inside tags of the jacket. I however, have no idea how to take care of it; if i need to put a special oil on it? keep it in a dark cool place? how often should i oil it if at all? any help would be much appreciated as I would HATE to see my grandpas original bomber jacket dry up and die. Thanks in advance!

07-08-2012, 01:47 PM	#2
Jasonw560 PhD from Sarcastic State Join Date: Jul 2011 First Name: Jason Location: Harlingen, TX Posts: 812 Trading: (0)	Re: how to take care of leather? Find out what kind of leather it is. If it's authentic, it's probably sheepskin. Find a good saddle soap, amd clean it with that. As long as it's compatable with porous leather. Store it in a cool, dry place on a padded hanger. There's lots of home recipes for making stuff that should protect the leather. Or ask someone who deals in leather what's good. __________________ ...And a woman is only a woman, But a good cigar is a smoke! -R. Kipling

07-08-2012, 01:55 PM	#3
cigarmonkel User Title goes here Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: a2/ypsi. in the mitten Posts: 1,594 Trading: (32)	Re: how to take care of leather? awesome thanks!

07-08-2012, 02:15 PM	#4
themoneycollector Nicotiana Tabacum Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hill AFB, UT Posts: 1,258 Trading: (108)	Re: how to take care of leather? I would condition it with lexol or leather honey conditioner every 4-6 months. Just put some on a soft cloth and wipe it down.

07-08-2012, 03:27 PM	#5
Weelok I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Jul 2011 First Name: Dave Location: Reno, NV Posts: 4,106 Trading: (21)	Re: how to take care of leather? Sounds like some good advice above. For car leather, you definitely need to oil it and I do so about once a month. If you don't, it will fade and crack. It's apples and oranges as a comparison I grant you as cars get exposed to sun and high temperatures. Also, the leather in my car I wouldn't really call leather so it's not near as durable as real leather. My take away would be periodic gentle cleaning using a micro fibre cloth and a good leather conditioner would be appropriate. You could probably get what you need on Amazon. I can't recommend a conditioner as I'd be hesitant to use the ones I use for my car, Meguiar's Gold Leather Conditioner, unless you get some real leather expert to OK it's use.

07-08-2012, 03:30 PM	#6
Col. Kurtz Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Jerry Location: South Appleton Posts: 1,839 Trading: (26)	Re: how to take care of leather? Drop a note to the Smithsonian and see what they recommend. IIRC, they use Ballistol... __________________ Artillery Lends Dignity to What Would Otherwise Be a Vulgar Brawl

07-08-2012, 03:38 PM	#7
Weelok I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Jul 2011 First Name: Dave Location: Reno, NV Posts: 4,106 Trading: (21)	Re: how to take care of leather? Here are some forum posts that seem to say you may be fine with Meguiars http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...er-Jacket-care Test a small section first as one post complained his leather turned greenish on Amazon.

07-17-2012, 01:35 PM	#8
cigarmonkel User Title goes here Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: a2/ypsi. in the mitten Posts: 1,594 Trading: (32)	Re: how to take care of leather? awesome thanks for all the help guys! My grandfathers jacket will definitely stay in good condition now thanks to you all!

07-17-2012, 01:41 PM	#9
fencefixer Feeling at Home Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 544 Trading: (7)	Re: how to take care of leather? Just make sure you do a little bit at a time more often and not cake it on thick at once. It'll take a little bit of time until it's all absorbed. I personally use beeswax leather conditioner but YMMV.

07-17-2012, 01:48 PM	#10
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,625 Trading: (47)	Re: how to take care of leather? Call or write Langlitz leathers. They make about the best leather products around and are often involved in restorations and the making of movie gear. http://www.langlitz.com/ __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx