There is a trick used for new saddles to give them a more aged look. Take
olive oil and apply it with a brush or your fingers. It works better if you
heat it slightly in the microwave. You might want to test a small area.
After the olive oil has soaked in, the leather will be much darker and richer
looking. Initially, the leather will be very dark with the wet oil and will
lighten in color as the oil dries back. The 'natural' oils in the olive oil
will not damage the leather and help to protect it from weathering. More
coats of olive oil will help to deepen the color. I would suggest you wait
several days after applying the oil to judge the final color since you need to
allow time for the oil to penetrate the leather and evaporate from the
surface.
If the olive oil does not result in the color you are after, then try staining
the leather before applying the oil. You cannot easily stain the leather once
you have treated it with any oil products, whether olive oil or neat's-foot
oil. Experiment with a small piece before completing the whole lot.
Gil Fuqua
Nashville
________________________________
From: shop-talk-bounces+gil.fuqua=cci-ir.com@autox.team.net on behalf of Mark
Sent: Thu 11/15/2007 6:54 PM
To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: [Shop-talk] Leather Finish
I am in the process of making a set of leather straps to hold down a spare
tire. I ordered some strips of leather from Tandy Leather and it arrived a
couple of days ago. It is 1/8 thick and 1 1/4 wide and will work just fine
for my purpose. It is a very light beige color which I assume is a natural
color. Is there some sort of dressing or oil that I should use to make it
darker and protect it from the elements? I seem to recall Neat's-Foot Oil
is something I would put on a new pair of hunting boots and my ball glove
many years ago. How about just plain old shoe wax to give it some color?
You all can tell that I don't have a clue what I am doing. I would like for
this to look like old "English" leather.
Please Humor Me!
Thanks,
Mark
Nashville
http://www.arrestmered.com <http://www.arrestmered.com/>
58 "Bugeye"
66 TR4A
S2-27
WB0NOO
_______________________________________________
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