saddle cleaning

[superchute]

I mostly just go my own saddle's with saddle soap and then lexol to reoil them. Making shere to get as much of the ass I can with a good coat to help oil it. I have heard of some guys using hot oil and other thing. I would like to know how you do it and what you use. I can see were it is about a all 3 hour job to do it right what would you charge to do this job for some one.

thanks

Russell

[greg gomersall]

Properly cleaning and oiling a saddle is generaly a dirty labour intensive job, not hard to do but time consuming to do right. If someone brings me a saddle to be cleaned I approach it with the attitude that if they are Too Lazy to do it themselves then I am gonna be well paid to do it for them so I multiply my shop rate times 1.5. Most people's jaw hit the floor and decide to buy the products they need and do it themselves. A few choose to have us do it,for these my wife does (she gets well paid for it and does an excellant job). To go thru a full carve with a toothbrush is alot of work but the smile on the customers face when they see thier saddle and the extra spending money in my wife's pocket makes all happy. Greg

[bruce johnson]

I am curious what everyone is using for their cleaner, and then conditioner afterward. Any types of finishes afterwards?

[Randy Cornelius]

I use Amway's LOC that is a liquid organic concentrate that is gentle and rinses well. I will use a bucket of warm water and a soft bristle brush and really give it a good scrubbing. I then let them dry naturally and follow up with a good coat of oil. I use 100 % pure vegatible oil as it will not darken the leather and when it sets it returns to a natural color. I then follow with a coat of Lexol. I will use Tan Coat as the top coat.

If one come in really dirty, caked on mud, moldy with mud dobbers nests and such I have been know to take these to the car wash. It really gets the sheep wool clean as long as it is in good shape to start. Just dont get to close to the nozzle as it will tent to peal the leather with the power wash.

Randy

[jwwright]

I charge my hourly shop rate. The total charge will depend upon just how much there is to do...ie. cleaning out carving, etc. I use liquid saddle soap, rinse, 100% neatsfoot oil, and a light saddle soap finish when dry.

[raftert]

How are yall,

When I clean a saddle I start with a good saddle soap, I use Fiebings saddle soap. I do not let the saddle dry completely. When the leather starts to change back to orginal color I apply a mix of 1 cup pure neatsfoot oil, 1 cup anhydrous lanolin ( melted ), 1 oz ceder oil, and 4oz beeswax ( melted ). Rub into leather and let set.

Tim

[Cowboy Crafts Online]

Im with Greg, if someone brings me a saddle they are probably just to lazy to clean it. I have had saddles come in that have been ridden in a feedlot with no care taken at all. I charge at least $200 to clean a saddle. Most of the time people choose not to have them cleaned. I just tell them it would be cheaper for them to do it and I even will tell them how to do it for free.

Ashley

[raftert]

I do charge time and a half shop rate

Tim