Need Help Cleaning

[JLD]

Hi All,

I have just bought a pre-loved Joey Jemison cutting saddle and I would ike some help cleaning/restoring it. It was originally a rough out saddle and looking under the flaps was a tan colour.

The top side is BLACK with grease and arena dirt. I don't think it has ever been cleaned. I thought about a pressure cleaneer it is that bad.

Can someone give me some ideas on getting this saddle back to a more normal appearance. The only upside is that with the amount of leather dressing the leather is in pretty good nick just putrid.

Help please.

Johanne

Edited August 12, 2008 by JLD

[superchute]

well the pressure washer is the the best thing but I have did and work ok just after you done washing it let it dry off then oil it good. I use a good oil and gave it 2 good coats out side on a hot day so it soaked in nice and that saddle is still good today and that was 15 years ago boy is was dirty.

Russ

[greg gomersall]

Please Do Not Use a pressure washer. I have seen the grain side of the leather lifted right off of the leather. Use a good saddle soap with just enough warm water to make good suds and lots of elbow grease. A stiff nylon brush or a brass wire suede brush will work good on the roughout areas to help you get through the grease while working the soap in. Greg

Edited August 12, 2008 by greg gomersall

[Traveller]

Greg, I understand that the key to using saddle soap is that you have to make sure you rinse it completely off, even if the product label says you don't have to. Is that your experience, too?

I've found that Oakwood makes a very nice saddle soap.

[rharris]

Oakwood also makes a very good saddle conditioner. I agree with Greg, DO NOT use a power washer.

RussH

Greg, I understand that the key to using saddle soap is that you have to make sure you rinse it completely off, even if the product label says you don't have to. Is that your experience, too?

I've found that Oakwood makes a very nice saddle soap.

[JLD]

I said the pressure washer with a .

I have been using a nail brush and saddle soap on a small area, as soon as the suds turn black I wipe them off with a damp cloth, then start again.

I am using Joseph Lyddy Glycerine saddle soap which seams to be doing the job.

I was hoping there was a slightly quicker way

Thanks

Johanne

[rustyriggin]

I have found that Leather New put on REAL sheep skin foams up wonderful and really gets in the cracks, I usually follow that with a soft shoe brush to get the left over foam out of the tooling. I've had some pretty nasty saddles, and they all left my shop looking better than new. I also use a brass bar-b-que cleaner for a brush on rough out, one of the big ones, you can really put pressure on it, and it fits the hand pretty good. Anyway thats just how I do it.

[greg gomersall]

that dirt and grime didn't just appear there in a few minutes and its probably not gonna leave quickly either. That's where the elbow grease comment comes from. Good luck and happy scrubbing. Greg

[CollinsMS]

I used a water hose and Ivory dish soap with a soft brush for the initial cleaning. Then I use a battery powered MicroDerm Abrasion Kit and saddle soap. This was my wife's idea and it works great. Guy's this is a small soft brush that rotates to cleanse the face.