Cleaning Leather Cased
 

I don’t know what Forum this belongs in so I’ll stsrt it here and let the Power that be’s move it if necessary. I have a leg o mutton case in good shape but is coveted in decades of grime and dirt. What’s the best way to clean and preserve a piece like this?

Message kevin McCormack

I'd clean it thoroughly with saddle soap, allow to dry 24 hrs., then apply Pecard dressing per directions.

If you use saddle soap I'd suggest Belvoir Glycerine Saddle Soap or an equivalent bar saddle soap. Good stuff. Great for all leather that gets heavy use like saddles

Blackrock Leather N Rich is a fine product.
https://www.blackrock-leather.com/pages/about-us

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll take before and after pics when I start this.

Just about any good horse tack shop will have a good leather cleaner and conditioner. Lexol is another good product. Kiwi even makes a decent saddle soap to clean with.

Using Pecard afterwards is always good and it will not darken leather but I consider it only a light conditioner and it will need several applications if you need deep leather conditioning. If you want deep conditioning then there are other leather conditioners that will really get in there like a mink oil, Obenauf, or even a Red Wing Boot oil but that might darken leather. I also like the Orvis Gokey leather cleaner conditioner it is between Pecard and the later three I listed.

BTW what type leather is the case. If its a suede or nubuck then above does not apply at all.

Carr & Day & Martin make Belvior previously mentioned by Jeff. They also make Ko-Cho Line. This is unbeatable to use on saddles and leather that are going into storage. It would be great for leather gun cases that primarily sit empty.

Harry you living the heart of horse country will have a bunch of very good options. They know how to take care of hard wearing saddle and bridle leather in that neck of the woods.
I did not know about Belvoir but have been out horse game a while.

I dampen my sponge with Lexol then rub the bar of Belvoir on tack, boots, saddles, hunt appointments, leg of mutton gun cases, and topsiders. Using water seams counterproductive. When we were riding every day we would melt a bar of Belvoir in Lexol and keep a natural sponge in with it. Everything that was associated with the ride was wipped down with the mixture in the tack room. I mostly follow up with Passier Leather Balsam after a day or so. For storage Ko-Cho-Line is the best.

Lexol makes a leather cleaner and a leather conditioner as well. I have experience with both of them having retailed Lexol products for many years while I was with Volvo. Several of the auto makers recommend Lexol on their leather seats. You won’t be disappointed.

www.lexol.com




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Saddle soap then Pecard is my standard. Both lightly applied. Better to apply the Pecard serveral times than one heavy coat.

William

Well, taking advice from the esteemed panel I used Lexol Cleaner and wiped the case down real good. I set it I. The sun to dry for awhile. I purchased a container of Blackrock Leather Conditioner and applied according to directions. Once dry I buffed it out with a horsehair brush from Granddads shoe shine kit. Here’s before and after.

Mike, I’m curious why you used the Lexol cleaner but not their conditioner?






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Thanks for sharing and that is a nice looking case. That one carry strap looks like nice bridle leather that needs probably a little more deeper conditiioning to extend its life. Its showng signs of dry rot. You may want to hit again a few times with the Black rock stuff and let it soak in some more. Have never used the black rock before so don't know its properties or how much it will penetrrate. Leather that has been forgotten some needs a little more of a process of reconditioning than just one or two steps sometimes. Since you already have the blackrock maybe just need to hit it one or more times to just be sure.

A lot of the paste stuff is more of a topical treatment. Sometimes bridle leather needs more deep conditioning throughout. Lexol condiitioner, maybe the Kho-Cho, Red Wing Oil or mink oil. All will probably do it but it needs to be like an oil or gel to really penetrate. Orvis Gokey leather conditioner works well also.

Once had an old Duluth pack that the straps looked like yours since stored it away and forgot about them. Thought I was going to need to replace the straps but used some Red Wing oil and it really brought them back but I am certain there other products that can do the same.

I had already bought the Blackrock and wanted to give it a try. I’ve used both Lexol products before on leather seats when I had Cadillacs. I was familiar with their conditioner. I’m going to take Todd’s suggestion and give the strap more work. One thing for sure, Kevin McCormack didn’t lose any sleep worrying about me taking his customers, lol. Although, I might see if he has a replacement strap.

I've seen much worse leather on horse reins and harness used for breaking green horses that I would not even think twice about it using. That strap has character but maybe just needs a little more attention from pictures you showed. It does appears to be a quality bridle or harness leather. Just needs a real heavy deep conditioning and it will probably still outlive your heirs if taken care of.

BTW if you wan't to see some beat up and abused leather snake boots you need see pics of Mark's Gokey snake boots. He has put some use of his leather boots and still going.