Doc Ironbeard Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Looking for advice on the best way to safely clean and preserve leather holsters and belts. I have several sets of used SASS holsters and belts that are stained, slightly soiled and dirty. I've used saddle soap and mink oil and such. So from all you folks experiences what's the best and safest way to bring this leather back to life and properly protected. THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 In 20 years of shooting CAS/SASS, I have never cleaned a belt or holster. When I bought new holsters from Kirkpatrick and asked them how to care for them they replied, "boot polish." If I tripped and landed in a mud puddle and got my leather wet and dirty, I would take it home rinse it off, allow it to air dry slowly, and apply boot polish or mink oil (lightly!!) as you have done, or maybe nothing at all. If you get holsters too soft, they aren't going to work well for you. Methinks you should probably worry about something else, no offense intended! If you use leather, it will look used. As it should. I shoot blackpowder, mostly, so if something were going to get dirty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardcase Hardin Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Hard to beat good old fashioned Kiwi and elbow grease. If you have to clean, do the best you can then slather on the Kiwi and buff away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Friend, SASS #53635 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Doc, it sounds like you did everything right. Like J-Bar I have never cleaned any cowboy leather but I have cleaned many dozens of leather jackets. It ain’t so critical what you use it’s more critical that you use it sparingly. I would stick to a purpose made leather product. I cringe when I hear people say they treat leather with olive oil. Olive oil is food and when it turns it stinks. Probably the best way of all to clean leather is with a damp cloth and air dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Taylor,SASS#14359 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Olive oil as well as neatsfoot oil is used on leather that has not been dyed or sealed so it can penetrate the pores. Used on finished leather it will lay on the surface and not help. Any shoe repair shop will have a good commercial cleaner followed by a coat of clear wax polish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 i generally just put a tad of Ballistol on my leather when its looking dried out. just a drop or 2 on a rag goes a long way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Quote So from all you folks experiences what's the best and safest way to bring this leather back to life and properly protected Lexol ... http://www.lexol.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Agree 110% with JB. I have used Lexol for decades. It also works very well on soft-tops. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartEnder Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Dry brush to remove dirt, saddle soap as needed, polish or oil to protect / condition once completely dry. My 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 If your leather is extremely dirty from mud, let it dry, brush off the worst of it. Saddle soap is alright if you don't overdo it. If the holster became wet, wrap your gun in a plastic bag and insert the gun in the holster to maintain the shape. Allow to dry until it feels dry to the touch on the outside. Remove the wrapped gun and allow to dry overnight. When the leather feels dry on the inside, reinsert the gun without the wrapping. After thoroughly dry, treat the outside of the leather with Lexol(R) Leather Conditioner, SPARINGLY! After wet-fitting a customer's holster, I spray on a LIGHT application of Lexol, removing excess with a soft cloth (old T-shirt works best), and allow to dry. DO NOT overdo the application. For leather that appears to be drying out, again apply a light coating of Lexol and remove the excess with a cloth. I live in a dry climate and seldom treat my own leather more than once a year or more. Belts, if cleaned of caked-on dirt with saddle soap, need to be treated the same way. Do not store cartridges in cartridge loops for more than a few days, at most! Again, a light application of Lexol Leather Conditioner should do the trick. Note: old leather that has cracked and split is basically unrecoverable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 PLUS ONE to J-Bar!! Most leather cleaning and conditioning products just soften the leather. Why would you soften a holster?? After play this game since the beginning, I just use a brush to get the dust or dirt off. Stains just add character. Like most else, it's only "New" once. Olive oils, and most other "oils" are actually a "food" product and will go rancid (smell real bad, turn colors). Conditioners are intended to soften. Saddle Soap is intended to soften. Try not to fall in puddles. Bad for your leather and folks will point and giggle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Friend, SASS #53635 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 6 hours ago, Trailrider #896 said: If your leather is extremely dirty from mud, let it dry, brush off the worst of it. Saddle soap is alright if you don't overdo it. If the holster became wet, wrap your gun in a plastic bag and insert the gun in the holster to maintain the shape. Allow to dry until it feels dry to the touch on the outside. Remove the wrapped gun and allow to dry overnight. When the leather feels dry on the inside, reinsert the gun without the wrapping. After thoroughly dry, treat the outside of the leather with Lexol(R) Leather Conditioner, SPARINGLY! After wet-fitting a customer's holster, I spray on a LIGHT application of Lexol, removing excess with a soft cloth (old T-shirt works best), and allow to dry. DO NOT overdo the application. For leather that appears to be drying out, again apply a light coating of Lexol and remove the excess with a cloth. I live in a dry climate and seldom treat my own leather more than once a year or more. Belts, if cleaned of caked-on dirt with saddle soap, need to be treated the same way. Do not store cartridges in cartridge loops for more than a few days, at most! Again, a light application of Lexol Leather Conditioner should do the trick. Note: old leather that has cracked and split is basically unrecoverable. Coincidentally my first cowboy rig was built by none other than Trailrider hisself, back around '04 I'd guess. I've never cleaned it or conditioned it and I wore the snot out of it until just a couple years ago.. That old leather is handsomer than I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 We have cleaned our bridles, saddles, boots, etc. with both Lexol treatments. I use saddle soap on my cartridge & shell belts and my holsters and pouches. That has worked for me for70 years!!! :-) I have NEVER done any deep cleaning of any of our leather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Lead Friend, Thanks, Pard! Guess I'll need to buy a bigger hat! Too bad that leather treatment doesn't work to fix what ails us as we git old... Your obedient servant, Trailrider Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Friend, SASS #53635 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 The back of my hands look like the surface of the moon. Wish they made Lexol for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 9 hours ago, Lead Friend, SASS #53635 said: The back of my hands look like the surface of the moon. Wish they made Lexol for that. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream; ‘most any big drugstore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Friend, SASS #53635 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 How does it hold up to liquid nitrogen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 55 minutes ago, Lead Friend, SASS #53635 said: How does it hold up to liquid nitrogen? I have no desire to run that experiment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Quote The back of my hands look like the surface of the moon. Wish they made Lexol for that. Lead Friend, got what you need for those hands too ... Bag Balm! Cows love it, your hands will too and also IMHO, it is the best case lube ... a little dab will do ya Be sure to read the ingredients ... https://www.drugsupplystore.com/vermonts-original-bag-balm-8-oz-udder-creme?utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_source=bc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI58jTreOt2QIVSQeGCh1-oAcYEAQYAyABEgLQZ_D_BwE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I have used many different things on leather and agree with most everything said above...and I will laugh if someone falls in a puddle but I will help them up. Thanks for the chuckle CC. I have made many mistakes with leather. Used whiz-bang products that caused cracking or too much softening. Used traditional oils that softened things up too much. Used vegetable based oils that didn't pass my muster. Now, I do not clean leather unless it's gotten muddy or soiled and I literally use warm water on a damp rag to wipe it down, let it dry, and then I treat it by wiping it down with a soft cotton rag with a spritz of Maguiar's leather treatment (for automotive leather). I do the same with jackets and saddle bags. And it has UV protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 PLUS ONE to J-Bar and the Neutrogena Norwegian hand cream. I've got a little sampler container of Bag Balm but haven't tried it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Cent Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 mumble, mumble. mumble.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdog Dago Dom Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Way back when in the Police Academy (not the movie), cadets kept a can of Pledge and an old t-shirt close for a quick leather touch up if a supervisor was on the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turquoise Bill, SASS #39118 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I have used Skidmore's Leather cream, it treats dried and fading leather which is common out here in the high desert. Here is a link, it's available at most good leather shops as well as Amazon. http://www.skidmores.com/products.asp?cat=14 TB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Bill, SASS #4942 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 On 2/16/2018 at 1:22 PM, John Boy said: Lexol ... http://www.lexol.com/ ME TOO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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