Finishing/Protecting Chrome Tan?

[MtlBiker]

Using my red chrome tan leather, I tested 6 finishes last night and this morning.  I wanted to see two things... whether or not the finish changed the appearance of the leather and what it did for water resistance.  I didn't want to end up with something more shiny than the leather was before applying the finish.

I tried: Resolene diluted 1:1, Satin Sheen, Aussie Leather Conditioner, Leather Balm with Atom Wax and Bona Floor Polish both full strength and diluted 1:1.

In terms of shine, the best product was Satin Sheen which didn't seem to change the natural shine of the leather.  The worst were the two tests with Bona.  Very shiny.  Better than the Bona was Resolene, followed by Leather Balm and then the Aussie.  I did buff all products with a microfiber cloth when they were dry.

Then I used a medicine dropper to drop a bead of water on each piece and after 2 minutes I blotted the water off.  The Aussie product was the worst, with little protection against the water.  Followed by the Bona 1:1.  The other 4 products ALL worked perfectly with no noticeable spot where the drop of water had been.

So, based on my little test, my favorite product is going to be Satin Sheen unless I want a bit more shine to the leather.

[fredk]

Excellent

Thanks for sharing your results