How Much Is 2 Much Oil And Other Questions?

[Killkenny]

First post here and in advance, Thanks.

I read a tutorial where it stated too much neatsfoot oil is worse for the leather than not enough and another tutorial where it stated not to oil the rough side of the leather. Still other information I've seen basically states oil the heck outta the leather. Very confused here. For the record I'm a complete leather craft noob. For a first project (2nd if ya wanna be technical but the first was more of an experiment) I made a non-lined threepersons holster outta tandy 8/9oz. and am at the finishing stages. As of last night it had zero finish, oil or stain, etc on it but it now wheres a fresh coat of oil. When I was putting it on I kept having that nagging thought of "is it enough?, is it too much?". Basically, I used my fingers to slop on a good bit of oil (couple coats), inside and out, but never enough to puddle or run. Musta spent 15 minutes applying oil and within minutes of completion any surface oil had disappeared. Good enough? Too much? Smooth side? Rough side? Help!

Next question is final finish. I don't know if I'm gonna stain this rig or not but I'm curious as to final finishes. I like a basic, untooled holsters and belts. Always have. Now that I'm getting into leather work I have a deep appreciation for the work you craftsmen do and I may try tooling in the future but for now I'm stickin with very basic. That said, all I want for a final finish is about as basic as I can get. I don't want satin or gloss, just something to give "modest" protection to the holster......... So now that you know where I'm coming from could you fill in this blank, "Lot's of holsters out there a just finished with _____________ and/or ___________ and are doing just fine after 10 years".

Thanks again for any advice,

CB

Edited January 25, 2011 by Killkenny

[marine mp]

Killkenny,

First off, "welcome" to the LWF. There are so many others on this forum much, much more schooled in the art of leatherworking, so this information I pass on is just how "I" do my holsters. Before I sew it up, I finish the inside of the holster with a 50/50 ratio mix of water and gum tragacanth. I brush it on going with the grain and let it dry. Thats all I do, unless I want to dye the inside. As far as "how much neatsfoot".....again, JMO...I put i fairly light coat on the "outside" after I dye it and the let it dry overnight. That put some oils back into the leather that the dyes take out. By the way, I use alcohol based dyes from Feibings or home-made vinegaroon (vinegar-black). Then I finish off the holster, with 2 light coats of a 50/50 ratio mix of water/Resolene to seal the thing up. When I first started out, I would try to rush things and wouldn't let the leather dry properly. Now when-ever I do a operation, (other than the final Resolene, that about 15 min. between coats) I let the leather sit overnight and the projects come out much nicer. Patience!!!!! A word of advice....don't try to make this all to difficult. Read all you can on the forum, use the search venue, ask ???????, and enjoy. Semper-fi MIke

[Art]

Hi,

Assuming you have your edges finished and everything, you are pretty much done. You can spray on and rub in some Bag Kote inside and out or Tan Kote if you want a little more shine. Let it dry overnight, then a little Leather Balm with Atom Wax and buff it up if you want some protection and gloss. If you want to protect it from water some, use Pecard's in place of Bag Kote.

Art

First post here and in advance, Thanks.

I read a tutorial where it stated too much neatsfoot oil is worse for the leather than not enough and another tutorial where it stated not to oil the rough side of the leather. Still other information I've seen basically states oil the heck outta the leather. Very confused here. For the record I'm a complete leather craft noob. For a first project (2nd if ya wanna be technical but the first was more of an experiment) I made a non-lined threepersons holster outta tandy 8/9oz. and am at the finishing stages. As of last night it had zero finish, oil or stain, etc on it but it now wheres a fresh coat of oil. When I was putting it on I kept having that nagging thought of "is it enough?, is it too much?". Basically, I used my fingers to slop on a good bit of oil (couple coats), inside and out, but never enough to puddle or run. Musta spent 15 minutes applying oil and within minutes of completion any surface oil had disappeared. Good enough? Too much? Smooth side? Rough side? Help!

Next question is final finish. I don't know if I'm gonna stain this rig or not but I'm curious as to final finishes. I like a basic, untooled holsters and belts. Always have. Now that I'm getting into leather work I have a deep appreciation for the work you craftsmen do and I may try tooling in the future but for now I'm stickin with very basic. That said, all I want for a final finish is about as basic as I can get. I don't want satin or gloss, just something to give "modest" protection to the holster......... So now that you know where I'm coming from could you fill in this blank, "Lot's of holsters out there a just finished with _____________ and/or ___________ and are doing just fine after 10 years".

Thanks again for any advice,

CB