Soften Leather Strips

[Magjua]

Hello! I bought a 10oz double shoulder for belts and it is quite stiff. I have finished it in three ways: some Vinegeroon (with Neatsfoot after), some Mink Oil and some Neatsfoot Oil.

They are all still stiff, a couple hung to dry over a beam and when I laid them flat they have wrinkles where the bend was. I keep oiling and it is getting a little softer.

Is it possible to oil too much and ruin them or should I soak them in oil?

Thanks!

[Chief31794]

Do not soak them in oil, it is possible to get them soggy with oil and then they are a mess. After oiling lightly maybe a couple of coats and letting soak in then I would roll them gently in the direction you want them to flex, do that several times and they should "loosen" up. It's hard to tell what you mean by quite stiff, leather from that area is stiff and that is desirable for good quality belts. It also may have something to do with the tanning process, if it's Hermann Oak you shouldn't have any trouble, if you got it from Tandy you may not be able to correct it because you can't completely fix a bad tanning process. Just my opinion. If it is "out of the Normal stiffness range", then you could return it to the distributor and most reputable distributors will make it good.

Chief

[Magjua]

Thanks Chief, I'll try the rolling, they aren't too stiff, and agreed that they should be stiff for belts, just trying to avoid the dry feeling I guess. It did come from a pseudo-Tandy distributor, but he said he gets most hides from elsewhere.

I will oil once more and roll them up!