Super Sheen Alternative

[dadam38]

All i have used for finishing my projects is the eco flo super sheen, but i am wondering if there is certain type of oil that i can finish them with that isnt shiny, kind of like a baseball mitt but will still protect it from fading and marring the designs. I am using mostly 4-5 oz embossing leather for sheaths and small items. What do the different oils do or is there another product I should look for?

Thanks

[Cyberthrasher]

It sounds like you may be confused about what a finish is. Oils are a conditioner, not a finishing product that will protect your leather. Finishes will pretty much always be glossy and they seal the leather, stopping anything else from getting in.

But, that said, Super Sheen isn't the best out there. My first recommendation would be to look at Resolene from Fiebing's. It's an acrylic finish that will offer water and UV resistance and applies similar to Super Sheen. It will add a gloss finish, but when applied 50/50 with water it will be less glossy. It should ALWAYS be applied 50/50 with water, regardless of what the bottle says. You can add more water to try cutting down on the shine, but never less. Apply several light coats, regardless of the finish sealer you use.

Now, there are some products that would be more of a conditioner but also offer some protective qualities. These are what I call "temporary finishes" because they will need to be reapplied. Most of these will be a mixture of waxes and oils. The oils penetrate the leather, leaving the wax on top to protect it. But, it will wear off and need reapplication. My favorite of these is Montana Pitch Blend, but Pecard's is another go to product as well. These won't cause a lot of gloss and will mellow in time, but again, they must be reapplied.

[goldenstonebazaar]

Tandy has Fiebing's Aussie Conditioner that offers some protection, not as water-resistant as Super Shene or Resolene. Pecard's paste (something like "No more leaks") may work too, but it may be petroleum based. Eco-Flo professional finish comes in matte, but on frequently bent surfaces water-resistance suffers. Angelus finish come in matte too, but I didn't try it yet.

[Studio-N]

I put my vote in for Leather Balm. It is mostly Carnuba wax and a little acid to help clean the leather.