Applying Vaseline/Lanolin to the flesh side of leather

[Dwight]

A 50 / 50 bees wax and neatsfoot oil mixture works wonders for softening veg tan leather . . . and vaseline should only be put on winter boots when going out into the snow . . . and you really don't care how they wind up looking . . . so your feet stay dry.  That is the ONLY use for vaseline and leather together.

I've used the combo it on shoes, belts, billfolds, all sorts of stuff . . . just be careful and don't go crazy with it.

Once you've added the mixture to the leather rubbed it in and let it soak overnight . . .  use a thin dowel . . . 1/4 inch or so . . . lay it on the leather . . . roll the leather over it . . . (not around it) . . . both with flesh up and with flesh down . . . and you will probably really like the results.

May God bless,

Dwight

[YinTx]

Find some dry milled veg tan, you can tool it, and use laser on it also.  Will not require much leather conditioner at all, and will be soft and easy to roll up.  

[ScottWolf]

On 2/6/2023 at 3:56 AM, simo289 said:

I am experimenting with different way of softening veg tan leather, hopefully to a nice floppiness, mainly using vaseline and lanolin (seperately and in mixtures).

 

Having read around about various different leather conditoners, commercial and homemade, I'm having a really hard time knowing whether I should try applying it to the flesh side of the leather. It soaks quite nicely into the top grain, espcially with a little heat persuasion, but would it do the same on the flesh side? WIll it make any difference? Will it ruin the leather?

 

I'll probably try on one of the scrap pieces I'm already working with, but wondered if anyone had any words of wisdon to share...

The flesh side of leather will readily soak up anything you get on that side quicker than compared to the grain side. Which is why you want to be careful when dyeing, ask me how I know.

The ingredient in Vaseline that some find to be useful is mineral oil. The other ingredients in vaseline really are of no use for leather, but vaseline is cheap and you can get it in big tubs. The mineral oil in it can bring color back out of leather that has lightened up/faded and give leather a nice sheen, which is why it can be used as a "finishing" product more than a conditioning product. It's like using Armor all on your tires. They look shiny and new but it really doesnt do anything else useful for the tire. Some popular commercial leather conditioners use mineral oil in their product for this reason, it brings color back and makes things shiny.

 

Lanolin: if you're using the good stuff, its yellowish goo, it's pricey and has a strong sheep odor. Works great and restoring and softening leather but it takes several applications and if you use too much, you get that smell and some tackiness until the leather can fully absorb it. For what you are doing, its the better choice for accomplishing your goal.

[jrdunn]

According to the SDS for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly it is 100% petrolatum, no other ingredients. 

https://www.bettymills.com/product/MSDS/Vaseline Petroleum Jelly (1202753).pdf

Fiebing Aussie Leather Conditioner SDS says that it contains 59-72% petrolatum.  Yes, I would only use it for things that would be wet a lot.  JM2C.  Jim

https://www.springfieldleather.com/sds-sheets/Fiebings/Fiebings Aussie Conditioner.pdf