How To Best Apply Neatsfoot Oil?

[papaw]

Could it be you are putting to much oil on or letting the sun hit it.

[MerlB]

Could it be you are putting to much oil on or letting the sun hit it.

Too much oil? Very well possible, thats why I'm asking for help cause I've got no clue

Sun? Nope. For an hour maybe, but else sun's not getting past the trees outside...

[papaw]

I would try small sponge not as wide as the leather, ring sponge out very dry and wipe a pass down the middle liter than you would normally and let it set in the shop. You could dampen the leather with water first so it soaks up the oil slower. I sun tan and it looks like maybe to much oil, try a couple of scraps. the reason is said down the middle cause your not going to get it on the edges and the oil will migrate through out the leather. Camano Ridge is good at this but you have to try thing till they work for you.

[camano ridge]

I agree with pawpaw, you may be putting on to much at one time. Use light coats, with the Neatsfoot compound you would have to use aan applicator like a sponge etc. as the MSDS and the can say that it can be a skin irratant. However with 100% Neatsfoot Oil I use finger tip application this allows plenty of control as to the amount and where I am applying it. As pawpaw pointed out exposure to sunlight will darken the leather, however exposure to any light that emits UV will also darken leather.

Attached is a thickness conversion chart you might find helpful.

[oltoot]

If you can find it, try Lexol nf. won't darken and with any oil, try having your leather a little damp when you oil. Needs to be evenly moist, actually cased is about right

[MerlB]

Thanks all.

I will keep on trying.

I will also see, if diluting Fiebings dye with pure water helps with the hard leather.

Lexol nf doesnt seem to be available in Germany...

[RMAN622]

When oiling holsters, are both the outside and inside of the treated? Also, one of my favorite holster sites, Brigadier, oils after dyeing, but does not state inside and outside.

Finally, a harness maker, recommends olive oil as his preferred treatment. Any thoughts? I thank you in advance. Jim

[Troy I]

I oil inside and out with NF Oil, using my fingers after the has been applied.

I think olive oil will work fine, I have even read of people using Cod Liver Oil with great success.

[MerlB]

this is what my testsubject looks like finished. A little bit darker than planned but it turned out when applying carnaubacream it brightened up a bit.

[camano ridge]

RMAN, olive oil will work just fine. I haev Olive Oil and neatsfoot oil. I use either one depending on the mood I am in. They both seem to work just fine.

MerlB that looks like it turned out nice.