Making Leather Supple And Flexible After Applying Finish

[AustinAl]

Please forgive me I'd in the wrong forum. It was either here or in the specialty products.

I'm been a newbie to the hobby for a few months and a forum member for about a month or so but I have been mostly silent while busily absorbing as much info as I can.

I'm currently finishing up a small folding coin purse for my father and I've run into a stumper. See, this coin wallet is supposed to open when you squeeze the base sides. The black one worked perfectly after dying with spirit based dye then, after a thorough overnight drying I massaged some NF oil into it. Problem is when I put a finish afterwards (to keep the black from bleeding in a sweaty pocket) it stiffens up and no longer "springs" back closed when releasing the pressure on the sides to close it up.

Same issue with the brown one except that I used Fiebings 4-way instead of NF oil. That one did not have as much "spring/memory" and also stiffened up with a light coat oF Fiebings Leather Sheen.

Since I'm starting out I only have the Leather Sheen, Tab-Kote, Saddle Soap, NF and 4-Way as well as bees wax.

I gratefully appreciate any suggestions as to how to get that suppleness back into the leather while reasonably protecting the pocket material.

I apologize for the long post. It's a side effect from a TBI suffered overseas. I'm working on improving it.