Leather preservation

[sakorick]

There are a lot of theories out there on leather restoration. I consider restoration as a impossible thing. In my view, we are actually talking about preservation rather than restoration. Whatever shape your old slings, pouches and holsters are in should be preserved from further deterioration. That said, a leather preservative is the ticket and the best of the best is Propolis. So what is this stuff? It is tree resins use by honeybees to weatherproof and disinfect their hives. This product of nature resists mildew, mold and bacteria that are bad news for bacteria. Obenauf's makes a product that is called Heavy Duty LP and is available from Cabelas....a bit spendy but worth every cent. Here are my two 1911 holsters one a WWI and one a WWII that have been treated for many years now with Propolis. You be the judge. Regards, Rick.

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

This holster has been treated every six months or so with Pecards for about ten years. So far I like the results. Doesn't darken the leather, and apparently works. Holster is a G&K 1918.

[gew8805]

Sakorick, they look good. Do you have a link? The one you posted takes us to "Heavy Duty LP Propane Heating Tip", unintentional I am sure. Propolis sounds good as long as it doesn't have any petroleum byproducts which almost all modern leather "preservatives" do have. As I'm sure you know, these products will damage leather.

---------- Post added at 10:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 AM ----------

Ah, never mind, I found it:

Heavy Duty LP

They say: "Propolis resists bacteria and mildew, and is a barrier against manure acid, salt, caustic chemicals, and petroleum. Combined with beeswax it repels water better and longer." if that is true then it certainly doesn't contain petroleum products so should be good. Your results look good, I may have to try it since pure neatsfoot oil (the best when applied correctly) is getting hard to find and expensive.

[Johnny Peppers]

Care of Fine Leather : Leathercare help from David Morgan

[gew8805]

Care of Fine Leather : Leathercare help from David Morgan

A nice link provided by a man who sells Pecards and benefits from it. I personally have no problem with it's use when it is applied to a new item that is to be used up and thrown away when worn out.

For correct care of an antique leather item that is to be preserved for historical purposes, read the National Park System document linked below:

http://www.nps.gov/museum/publicatio...pendix%20S.pdf

The entire article should be read but information on treatment using compounds begins on page 20. They properly recommend that the best thing to do is much less application of oils and greases used by the average collector. Instead, look to proper storage conditions; particularly temperature, humidity, exposure to sunlight and proper air circulation.

A link to proper preservation that shows a middle road on restoration and preservation is David Jarnagin's advice here:

Leather Preservation for new leather

Mr. Jarnagin is an acknowledged leader in correctly made reproduction production and modern methods and materials for preservation of new leathers done in the same way using methods from the period, as well as a capable preservationists and restorer of original items that are, in some cases, severely deteriorated.

[Johnny Peppers]

Yes, the government is noted for giving good advice.

Most of my leather has had Pecards used on it for almost 35 years now with no signs of change, and it doesn't stay in humidity controlled cases. I don't expect any drastic changes in my leather in the near future, and will continue to use it until something better comes along, which hasn't so far.

I have seen first hand what Neatsfoot oil does to leather, and it is not good. The two Randalls shows date to the mid 1960's. The one on the right was a gift to my father who thought Neatsfoot Oil was good for everything. Today the leather is coming apart and has turned soft. The knife on the left is actually a few years older, and has had Pecards used as a preservative.

[gew8805]

Yes, we've discussed this before here. The one on the right was used and carried, the other has obviously not been - it has no wear whatsoever other than the obvious flex marks at the top of the stone pouch and around the snap. Properly applied pure neatsfoot oil will have no negative affect whatsoever. However, I am looking with great interest at Propolis....