DIY leather conditioner

[dikman]

Yep, if they're using Minie bullets then they'll grease the bullets themselves, if shooting more traditional round ball then they'll lube the cloth patches with it. And yes, rendered pork is generally called lard.

[billybopp]

12 hours ago, dikman said:

I've been pondering the subject of tallow and trying to do what little research I can on it. It seems that traditionally tallow is made from beef or sheep fat as both of these appear to store indefinitely without refrigeration. When using pork fat it's called grease as the chemical structure of pork fat is different to beef and sheep fat and it also has a finite life. Tallow can be made from other animals - bear, elk, deer, buffalo - but from what I can glean none of them have the shelf life of beef or sheep tallow BUT I have no experience personally with them. Quite a fascinating subject, did you know that tallow was used for lubricating steam engines? Amazing stuff, really.

If you have 50 TONS or so of lard ... You can launch a battleship!   Before oil became civilization's main source of lubrication, animal fat of one sort or another was used to lubricate.  Everything from wagon wheel axle grease to steam engine bearing surfaces.  I have no doubt it was used to build the pyramids and great cathedrals too!

P.S.  At least for me, Bacon fat does a wonderful job lubricating my cast iron skillet for the eggs that are cooked after.  Just don't tell my doctor that I do that, please.

- Bill

Edited January 20, 2024 by billybopp

[fredk]

Not only lubrication, but also used on one-self as a protection against cold weather (goose grease mostly) and tallow was the main source of light, tallow candles and lamps, from Roman times to the invention of the gas light

[ToddW]

I am playing around with my leather balm and saw some people adding Vitamin E.  Looking around there are different IU values which has me real confused what to order..  30,000... 45,000.. 60,000. I am no chemist so curious if I am over thinking this and should just order up some off Amazon or if there is something specific for balms I should be looking at?

As a side note, I saw a balm today that used cold pressed sunflower seed, Shea Butter, Bees Wax and Vitamin E that looks to be softer and easier to apply than the mix of almond oil, bees wax and coco butter I just mixed up..

Any thoughts??