Neatsfoot oil

[jsroye96]

Hey Everybody,

Well I'm off on my very first project ever. I decided I am going to tackle making a saddlebag. I have all the pieces cut out and edged and burnished, I made the gussets, got everything punched out and now I am to the point of applying neatsfoot oil to everything....... Is it supposed to turn my leather dark? I also have darker spots and lighter spots on the one strap I tried to apply this neatsfoot oil to. I was told to just apply a thin coat and thats what I did. Maybe the dark and light spots will even out as it dries... I need you guys input to see if this is normal and if my leather is supposed to be turned a much darker color. Thanks alot for you guys help. I hope this project turns out ok.

John.

[Tkleather1]

It will darken some leather different than others. What type of leather is it and where did you buy it? it should even out a little bit. With some Veg tan leather that I have purchased from Tandy leather factory have done this to me as well and for that reason I will not be using them anymore.

[jsroye96]

Yeah, I got my leather at the Tandy store and it is veg-tanned leather.

[Denster]

When you apply neetsfoot it will darken all vegtans. You will always have light and dark places at first. Let it sit for a couple of days and it will all even out as the oil migrates through the fibers. Doesn't matter whose leather it is that's just the way it works.

[jsroye96]

you all were right, i woke up this morning and looked at the strap I had put the neatsfoot oil on and sure enough the color had lightened very slightly and was very even through out the leather. It looks really good, I sure am relieved. I was not too sure about it at first. Thanks very much for everyones feedback, i appreciate it. It's nice to have a place I can go to get help with leatherworking, especially since I have never done this before. Thanks again.

John.