Thinning Neatsfoot Oil

[Doc Reaper]

I’m guessing this is the right place? 
I went and purchased 2 gallons of 100% neatsfoot oil and it seems as thick as molasses and it’s a hot summer here in North Carolina.

Spreading this is difficult to say the least! How do I thin this oil to correctly apply to leather? 
Im open to any suggestions 

[bruce johnson]

Doc,

   The fact is that some neatsfoot oil may not actually NF oil in the true sense. During a wartime effort (WW2?) the restrictions were eased and other animal fats/oils were allowed to be added or substituted and still called pure NF oil. One of the common ones is cold pressed hog lard. I used to buy gallons of pure NF from whoever was cheapest and often that was a local animal health supplier. Once in a while I'd get some that was cloudy and chunky, sometimes clear and super thick. I went to using Fiebings and had a more consistent product. I have never heard of a thinner for leather oils but light heating usually helped mine out. 

[K5HEP]

If you heat it up it will thin out. Place a usuable amount in a small bottle with a screw on lid and emerse the bottle in hot water. Let it warm up and you will be good to go...

[fredk]

I put some in a glass jam jar and heat it up in a micro-wave. About 20 or 30 seconds gets it real hot, and very thin

[Doc Reaper]

FYI = it is FIEBINGS and I’ll try warming it, it’s almost like maple syrup 

[Goldshot Ron]

I have a small crock pot, approximately 1/2 quart size (found at a garage sale for a buck).  I put the oil in a jar and warm it as you would a baby bottle in the crock pot.  Just remember to unplug when you finish (experience speaking).

[fredk]

Thats a good idea. Its been a long time since I needed one but I remember you could get electric powered baby bottle warmers. Maybe you/me/we could pick one up cheap?

[sbrownn]

I rarely use neatsfoot oil at all anymore; usually only when I want to soften up something.  IMHO it softens and darkens the leather too much.  I like Skidmores Leather Cream.  When applied by hand it warms up, thins out nicely, soaks in and buffs up to a nice semi glossy sheen.  

[Dwight]

On 8/22/2022 at 8:37 PM, Doc Reaper said:

I’m guessing this is the right place? 
I went and purchased 2 gallons of 100% neatsfoot oil and it seems as thick as molasses and it’s a hot summer here in North Carolina.

Spreading this is difficult to say the least! How do I thin this oil to correctly apply to leather? 
Im open to any suggestions 

In two quick words . .  . you don't.

Put it on with a cheap 1 inch bristle brush . . . hair side only . . . and put just enough on to see you have covered it all or 95% of it.

You know you did because it begins to look wet.

Hang the item up to allow it to spread out and become uniform in the product . . . takes 24 hours.

Do it that way and you will like the result . . . heating it up will get too much on the project . . . and while it will not always ruin the project . . . it can do it very easily.

May God bless,

Dwight

[sbrownn]

32 minutes ago, Dwight said:

In two quick words . .  . you don't.

Put it on with a cheap 1 inch bristle brush . . . hair side only . . . and put just enough on to see you have covered it all or 95% of it.

You know you did because it begins to look wet.

Hang the item up to allow it to spread out and become uniform in the product . . . takes 24 hours.

Do it that way and you will like the result . . . heating it up will get too much on the project . . . and while it will not always ruin the project . . . it can do it very easily.

May God bless,

Dwight

I once saw a pair of expensive Harley Davidson leather saddle bags that were turned into a floppy mess doing it just the way you said not to.