Water casing vs oil

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

How do the 2 casing techniques stack up to each other? When would oil casing be preferable to water?

[DieselTech]

I guess I never heard of such technique as casing with oil. 

I thought all casing was done with water. 

[Mablung]

Never heard of that, either, and don’t think it would work. If you truly soak the leather with oil, you will create an irredeemable, soggy mess. 

[dikman]

Yep, never heard of it and don't see how it could work. Casing requires damping the leather and then letting it partially dry, oil doesn't dry out.

Feel free to try it, however and post your results to let us know what happens.

[Northmount]

5 hours ago, ThisIsMyFirstRodeo said:

How do the 2 casing techniques stack up to each other? When would oil casing be preferable to water?

Where did you hear about or find info on "oil casing".  We need to know the source and their reliability.

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

It was from one of the Tandy guys, so I would think it was at least a real technique. I believe it was in regards to dyeing or forming, rather than tooling, but I also have the short term memory of a springer spaniel chasing squirrels under a disco ball. 
From my own logic, I don’t think it would have great tooling value unless you were pounding the crap out of it.

[TonyV]

If I have an old, dry piece of leather I want to carve, I will sometimes apply a bit of NFO a day or so before I case it.  Seems to help restore the body sometimes, but I'm definitely not casing with oil.

Some people use a light application of neatsfoot oil after carving. Some people use a light application of NFO before dying, others after dying, or both.  Still not casing with oil.