Saddle Oil Question

[missmolly]

I had recently purchased a used Billy Cook saddle. I had taken it in to have it "professionally" oiled. My saddle was a chestnut color when I took it in and when I got my saddle back it was black! The place that oiled my saddle said that it would take several months for the oil to dry before it would go back to the origional color. Right now the saddle if blotchy in color all over. It has three colors right now....chestnut, reddish brown, and black. I believe the over oiled my saddle. Is there any way I can remove most of the excess oil on the skirting and fenders? Someone told me to wash my saddle with Dawn Dish soap and scrub it. Then after dry condition the saddle. Would Dawn dish soap be ok for the leather or would it harm my leather?

[MADMAX22]

personally I would try some saddlesoap which is what they should have done first then they should have used a light coat of oil. Hopefully it comes back to normal after some time.

[missmolly]

personally I would try some saddlesoap which is what they should have done first then they should have used a light coat of oil. Hopefully it comes back to normal after some time.

I did and no change.

[Randy Cornelius]

My guess would be that they oiled your saddle with harness oil that has a darkening agent in it. I would question what kind of professional you took your saddle to? I don't use anything but pure veg oil on my saddles and other fine leather products, no chance of changing color with the veg oil. I think I would have a few choise words for whoever done that to your saddle...

Randy

[oldtimer]

And my guess is that the saddle is oiled with Neatsfoot Compound Oil, which is a 90% petroleum oil product.

[missmolly]

I will see if I can find out what they use for oil. I would love to have a few choice words with the leather shop but I am limited to what I can say cause I have a family member working there and really don't want to have any family problems right now. At this point I feel it better to just see if I can darken the spots that are the origional color and sell it. It may be less expensive to do it that way cause right now with all the ruined jeans and saddle blankets that are getting all full of oil it's starting to feel like it's not worth it. When you tough the saddle your hands have this greasy oily feeling and my jeans are all blotchy with dye and oil that is coming from the saddle. I am going to attach a pic of what the saddle looks like right now. Most people tell me it's not that bad....

[MADMAX22]

Thats a bummer, looks like a nice saddle minus the oil. What did they use a barrel to dunk it in.

I would atleast talk to them about it, be polite but explain the situation. Family member or not if they are doing this to saddles they are gonna lose business. If it was a 1 time thing or maybe a more inexperienced person got the chance to play with your saddle then they should know about it.

[Ken Nelson]

I have a saddle shop and have had for a number of years. The owner of this shop should buy this saddle. This is unacceptable work. Tomorrow night I will post or try to post a couple of saddles I performed Clean and Oils on this week. You have the right to expect professional results when you take your work to someone that has a shingle hung out. I was taught that you turn down what you don't know how to do correctly. Just my opinion. Ken.

[missmolly]

It WAS a nice saddle. Someone told me that no matter how much oil that is put on a saddle...oil is a good thing. Then I had a totally different person tell me that if you over oil your saddle it will ruin the leather...break down the leather fibers or something like that. Which is true? I am to the point where I am just going to try to darken the rest to be all one color and sell it and get a different saddle. When I ride my pants get trashed with all the oil and dye that is coming out of the saddle as well as my saddle blanket is stained.

[missmolly]

I also found out what oil product they use. Fiebing.