Proper Use Of White Saddle Soap?

[reddevil76]

The product description say "clean and lubricate fibres", so I assume it is applied and left as that.

But googling it, I saw many comments saying that it must be rinsed off or the leather will crack.

So what is the correct way of using it? I can't imagine placing a leather item under the tap to rinse it.

[BillB]

I have used both yellow and white saddle soap. Saddle soap is used for cleaning and softening the leather. The yellow soap will add some color to the leather where as the white does not. I will use a damp sponge with the soap. I apply soap to the sponge by rubbing it on the soap, then I work the soap into the leather and the tooling I am cleaning. If the leather is old and dirty, yes I will rinse the leather, but then apply a second coat of soap. This second coat I will remove with a soft cloth and elbow grease. Once the soap is removed I will continue to buff to a soft shine. In some cases I will follow this with an application of an oil (neetsfoot or mink) to nourish the leather. Remember, leather is skin and needs to be cleaned and oil. Some may only need to be oiled to restore them to working condition. The coloring may be from all the human oils and sweat they have absorbed over the years.

I have used this process to restore 30 year old projects to almost new condition.

BillB.

[reddevil76]

Thanks, Bill. So can I say if the leather I am polishing is relatively new, then a single coat will do, and it only needs to be polished off and not rinsed?

[BillB]

Reddevil76

I would need to know more about the condition of the "new leather" and what you plan to do next. If you have finished all the tooling, staining and finishing, and you just want to clean the piece, then yes. I do not use Saddle Soap as a finish. I use it as a cleaner and conditioner. If you want to prep the leather for a finish, I would use a deglazer to remove any dirt and oils left on the surface by tools and hands. I would then do my staining and finishing. I prefer Fiebings products for Dyes and Stains. I use carnuaba creme for a finish or just plain non-coloring neatsfoot oil (depends on the item and how it will be used). I might then use saddle soap to take any residual finishing dyes and oils off the item and buff to a nice soft finish.

I forgot to mention that I save all my old toothbrushes since they make wonderful scrub brushes for working the saddle soap into highly detailed carvings. I also use the very soft ones for removing the residual saddle soap as well as any other finishing product that leaves a residue. Just be careful to label the ones you use so that you don't cross over product lines,

I hope this is helpful. Just remember that leather is the skin of a an animal and think of it like your skin. If you wash you skin with soap (ones with no oil or conditioning additives) then you put hand lotion on you hands after to keep the skin from drying out and cracking. The same is true with leather. Whether it be new or old as the leather gets worked and used the natural oils are taken out (the deglazer will remove not only oils left by my hands but the natural oils in the leather), Heavy usage will also affect the leather, such as a leather strap on Duluth pack will see lots of sun and rain, but not enough hand usage to have the hand oils replace the natural oils, so it is best to oil those straps at least once a season. The leather writing bi-folds that I make, on the other hand, we see constant hand usage and will get oiled from hands, but will also get dirty and would need to be cleaned with saddle soap on occasion.

I hope this helps and not confuses you.

BillB

[reddevil76]

Reddevil76

I would need to know more about the condition of the "new leather" and what you plan to do next. If you have finished all the tooling, staining and finishing, and you just want to clean the piece, then yes. I do not use Saddle Soap as a finish. I use it as a cleaner and conditioner. If you want to prep the leather for a finish, I would use a deglazer to remove any dirt and oils left on the surface by tools and hands. I would then do my staining and finishing. I prefer Fiebings products for Dyes and Stains. I use carnuaba creme for a finish or just plain non-coloring neatsfoot oil (depends on the item and how it will be used). I might then use saddle soap to take any residual finishing dyes and oils off the item and buff to a nice soft finish.

I forgot to mention that I save all my old toothbrushes since they make wonderful scrub brushes for working the saddle soap into highly detailed carvings. I also use the very soft ones for removing the residual saddle soap as well as any other finishing product that leaves a residue. Just be careful to label the ones you use so that you don't cross over product lines,

I hope this is helpful. Just remember that leather is the skin of a an animal and think of it like your skin. If you wash you skin with soap (ones with no oil or conditioning additives) then you put hand lotion on you hands after to keep the skin from drying out and cracking. The same is true with leather. Whether it be new or old as the leather gets worked and used the natural oils are taken out (the deglazer will remove not only oils left by my hands but the natural oils in the leather), Heavy usage will also affect the leather, such as a leather strap on Duluth pack will see lots of sun and rain, but not enough hand usage to have the hand oils replace the natural oils, so it is best to oil those straps at least once a season. The leather writing bi-folds that I make, on the other hand, we see constant hand usage and will get oiled from hands, but will also get dirty and would need to be cleaned with saddle soap on occasion.

I hope this helps and not confuses you.

BillB

Thanks, Bill! Not confusing at all. Thanks for clear and concise explanation.

[nosiaht]

Thanks, I found this very usefull!