Oil Stain In Leather

[RVacc]

I used Cosmoline inside of some of my products.  Recently i noticed a dark stain from the cosmoline on the leather after submerging the leather in water. Is their anyway to pull the stain out or am i doomed to have to remake it?

 

[DieselTech]

34 minutes ago, RVacc said:

I used Cosmoline inside of some of my products.  Recently i noticed a dark stain from the cosmoline on the leather after submerging the leather in water. Is their anyway to pull the stain out or am i doomed to have to remake it?

 

What was the reasoning for using cosmoline on your leather products? 

Or did you use some cosmoline on some of your leather equipment, so it would not rust. & then it transferred to your leather product? 

Got any pics of said project in question?

Thanks.

[RVacc]

On 11/14/2024 at 5:48 PM, DieselTech said:

What was the reasoning for using cosmoline on your leather products? 

Or did you use some cosmoline on some of your leather equipment, so it would not rust. & then it transferred to your leather product? 

Got any pics of said project in question?

Thanks.

I don't have pictures of the product, I had to sign an NDA that wont allow me to upload them.  The use of cosmoline is to adhere the flesh side of 2 leather components together. This allows them to stay formed but leaves movement for when it is being used. It is applied on the inside of the product before it is sewn closed.

[chuck123wapati]

16 minutes ago, RVacc said:

I don't have pictures of the product, I had to sign an NDA that wont allow me to upload them.  The use of cosmoline is to adhere the flesh side of 2 leather components together. This allows them to stay formed but leaves movement for when it is being used. It is applied on the inside of the product before it is sewn closed.

I'm wondering where you got this info. But it is a form of grease so if it gets hot it will undoubtedly soak through and stain your leather.

[DieselTech]

Got me stumped! Unless somewhere in the world cosmoline is also another name for glue. 

The cosmoline I know of is a grease. Like my old WW1 WW2 weapons, were packed in cosmoline to preserve them when crated. 

[AlZilla]

On 11/14/2024 at 6:11 PM, RVacc said:

Is their anyway to pull the stain out or am i doomed to have to remake it?

 

If you remake it with cosomoline between the layers, whats to prevent it happening again?

[RVacc]

1 hour ago, DieselTech said:

Got me stumped! Unless somewhere in the world cosmoline is also another name for glue. 

The cosmoline I know of is a grease. Like my old WW1 WW2 weapons, were packed in cosmoline to preserve them when crated. 

You are correct it is the cosmoline grease.  We adapted it to our products, it does great holding the leather together while still allowing the material to move slightly when in use. only problem is sometimes it soaks through the leather to the appearence side. Its worse when it is hotter out.

 

[RVacc]

Just now, AlZilla said:

If you remake it with cosomoline between the layers, whats to prevent it happening again?

there is nothing to prevent it from happening again sadly.  it has been used in the products for over 90 years and it doesnt happen all of the time but when it does we have to remake, i wasnt sure if there was a way to pull it from the leather or not to remove the stain.

[AlZilla]

8 minutes ago, RVacc said:

there is nothing to prevent it from happening again sadly.  it has been used in the products for over 90 years and it doesnt happen all of the time but when it does we have to remake, i wasnt sure if there was a way to pull it from the leather or not to remove the stain.

I see. Well, I learned something new.

EDIT: Searching around trying to figure out this cosomoline/leather connection, I found a short discussion here about removing it from leather scabbards:

Edited November 20, 2024 by AlZilla

[dikman]

Using Cosmoline between two layers of leather sounds a bit bizarre to me.. Unless the leather is sealed before applying the Cosmoline then it's bound to start seeping through when it gets warm/hot, being a grease. I'm trying to visualise a reason for doing it and can't for the life of me think of one.

And if you find a process for drawing the Cosmoline out of the leather then what is the point of putting it there in the first place?

[RVacc]

Just now, dikman said:

Using Cosmoline between two layers of leather sounds a bit bizarre to me.. Unless the leather is sealed before applying the Cosmoline then it's bound to start seeping through when it gets warm/hot, being a grease. I'm trying to visualise a reason for doing it and can't for the life of me think of one.

And if you find a process for drawing the Cosmoline out of the leather then what is the point of putting it there in the first place?

I guess the best way i can describe it is it works as a moveable adhesive. I know it sounds odd to use but that is the way they have done it for the last 90 years, while trying to get them to move to a different product im also trying to find a way to salvage ones that have been stained if possible

[dikman]

Yes, it does sound odd. After 90 years you would think they would have found something better that doesn't have the potential for staining the items (whatever they are).

[DieselTech]

I know what will take the cosmoline out, but it is going to take the leather dye & everything else that's been applied to it, finish wise. 

[dikman]

Anything that can dissolve grease is bound to be a pretty strong (nasty?) solvent.......

[LeatherLegion]

A pair of scissors will remove any oil stains on leather, especially  Cosmoline stains

Edited December 2, 2024 by LeatherLegion

[Dwight]

Why not toss the cosmoline and use elmers white glue . . . or rubber cement.

Both will allow for a certain amount of movement while you are sewing the product . . . and since you are sewing it . . . it is to at some point . . .  be prevented from movement.

Both the white glue and rubber cement will give you that option . . .  and unless you practically bathe it in the glue . . . it will not come thru.

Try a couple pieces . . . I think you will like it as an option.

And just as an ending note  . . .   if anyone came into my leather shop with cosmoline . . . they would promptly shown the door and their product would go with them.  That is almost like hiring the wolves to guard the sheep while I go on vacation.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited December 3, 2024 by Dwight