softening leather

[wildrose]

Mom got a new saddle (for those who remember, the first one didn't work out), and is looking for a product to apply to it to soften it up a bit. All over, top and undersides. She knows about Lexol, neatsfoot and Aussie Wax, but wasn't sure what to tell her to use.

Suggestions?

She's also working on turning the stirrup leathers (this is a Western saddle, I should add). Good ways to do this? She's got a rod through them as it sits on a stand.

[ClayB]

Skidmore's Leather Dressing is the best stuff I've ever used to soften up up leather, especially old dried out leather but it would work for this too.

[bruce johnson]

Holly,

Turning the stirrups first. I would dampen them from the backside and the stirrup leathers too(another place I like to use ProCarve) and then turn them and run something through them. I like to use a 4x4 post section and that will overturn them a bit more than the tradtional broomstick. From the post I would add some weight. Something like 40# or so seems to be about right. Let them dry and then condition and work them a little, then set again with the weight. One of those things that takes about 5 minutes to set up when you are making a saddle, or the customer can fight it the rest of its life if you don't.

As far as the softening, one thing to consider is what kind of finish is on the saddle right now. A lot of the finishes on new saddles will repel the conditioners. Some are water soluble, and some are hermetic sealing agents. I would be pretty careful at first. I had someone bring in a light oil finish saddle they tried to oil. Ends up the finish was a pigmented something or other and the leather was not oiled much if at all. Some of the production outfits use these finishes because each saddle is the same color and uniformity sells. Hit this particular finish with oil and it selectively mottles and peels.

For conditioners I like Skidmores alright too. My number one favorite is Williams, and I use some Black Rock too. I like Hide Rejuvenator for strap work, but it seems to have more clothes ruboff than the others.

[cowgirlrae]

Neatsfoot oil on the back/flesh side, assuming the fenders and jockey is topgrain out. Ride, ride and ride some more, the heat and tension help lots.

I wouldn't mess with the old broom handle method to get the fenders turned, unless it is wetted and weighted will have little effect.

Just placing a stick there wont stress the leather enough to change.

Twist leathers

[wildrose]

Thanks! I passed on the info and she was appreciative.