Oil Stains On Cloth, Winter-Made Project Weeps Oil In Summer Heat

[Roger J]

Last winter I made an axe sheath from veg tan leather and finished it with a mixture of wax and neatsfoot oil.

All was fine, it had a nice dry waxy feel to it.

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Now comes the July heat, and the finish just feels greasy as heck and stains cloth an orangy-tan color.

I've hung it out in the sun each day this week and wiped it down every evening. The cloth staining has decreased, but it is still there.

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Is there something else I could do to draw out the excess oil, or is it just the nature of the beast?

[cgleathercraft]

I'd keep doing what your doing for now. If you want to speed it up a little could use a heat gun / oven at low heat to get the leather a little warmer than the sun will get it and the oil/wax with either be absorbed or pushed out.

[Roger J]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot this weekend.

[electrathon]

Leave a cloth touching it so that it will help wick out the oil as soon as it is near the surface.

[Roger J]

Thanks eletrathon.

I think the weep term I used was a bit too strong.

I'm thinking of perhaps sprinkling some talcum powder over it and letting it sit for a few days then gently brushing it off and wiping it down with a slightly damp cloth...would be OK?

[Roger J]

Update...things that were tried

1)tried stuffing and wrapping sheath with tissue paper, tightly binding the whole in packing tape and put it in the oven with only the light on (maintains temperature of about 40*C) for two days, worked a little but not much

2)completely covered the sheath with a ton of baby powder and repeated the technique above. Worked much better this time as the talc was stuck onto the oil. After brushing, and wiping it down, it was evident that there was still quite a bit of oil to remove.

3)finally added a bit of dish-washing detergent to some lukewarm water in the sink and submerged the sheath and gently rubbed it with a rag. After two minutes the water became brownish-orange. I drained the sink and immediately repeated the operation two other times, for only a couple of minutes each. Then I patted it dry and hung it in the oven (just with the light on).

It now feels a bit dry, but I'll wait a few weeks to see if any more oil rises to the surface.

Anyways, so-far-so-good, I'm really happy with the results.

PS...although the baby powder was washed off, one can still smell it and the leather feels silky smooth, but perhaps that will dissipate in the next few weeks

[Northmount]

Could use cornstarch to absorb the oil too. No smell.

Tom

[Roger J]

Could use cornstarch to absorb the oil too. No smell.

Tom

BP smell is faint and not unpleasant, but if you are making biker gear it might not be very appropriate

With cornstarch, I'd be afraid of attracting critters looking for a snack.