Maintenance

Somewhere over the years fathers stopped teaching their sons about maintaining their leather goods.  This is mostly because maintainable leather became less and less common as disposable goods started becoming more "profitable" to sell.  This also became less important as the necessity of both parents being in the work force grew.  Families had to work more and more to be able to constantly be replacing everything they worked hard to buy.  What a shame.  Well march on I say; here are some pointers on maintaining your leather goods.  This is based on doing leather work for 5 years and represents the best of my knowledge to date.

I like to use environmentally friendly Eco Flo conditioners and finishes.  This jar runs about $30 online and should last you a really long time.  I offer small amounts for $10 if you are interested in trying it without making such a large investment.  On boots or items that need to be water proofed I use Aussie.  Obenauf's is also very good.  I still use traditional Fiebings Oil stains as I find the Eco Flo stains take a great deal of suppleness out of the leather leaving it stiff as a board.

My well worn business card holder that my dog loves to steal could use a little attention.

Start off with a quarter sized dollop on a clean dry cloth and begin to work it into the leather.  Note to those inclined to be sarcastic:  Pictured shop rag is relatively clean as far as shop rags go!  Please do not use an article of clothing or anything you wouldn't mind staining as the conditioner can sometimes take up pigments of the stain.

Work it in gradually and evenly.  Making sure to get complete coverage as quickly as possible then work on evening it out.

If it has been a while since it has been conditioned the thirsty fibers will quickly soak up the conditioner.  That's to be expected, just add a second coat.  Don't forget to get the edges and the interior.

When it looks like the picture below after a couple minutes you know that the fibers are near their saturation point you can check again in another couple minutes and then buff dry.  You can also just let it sit as is but I find that the wax can dry streaky.  This is not a big deal as the wax will melt and smooth out with use.  Aussie and Obenauf's are fine to let air dry.

I prefer to buff it out to a nice smooth finish. Unfortunately it doesn't completely remove dog marks but it can help some.

The important thing to remember is that regularly caring for your things in the long run is less expensive than regularly replacing your things.  It creates less waste for our planet and allows you more time for friends and family.  A win/win in my book.  Help a neighbor with their garden, go to the park, read a book,  help an elderly person with a household repair. There is more to life than consuming.

Common times to recondition leather goods include:

Changing of the seasons:  It is always a good idea to prepare your goods for new weather.  Think of how you may get dry skin in the Winter.  Your body is able to repair itself; leather is preserved flesh and no longer has that ability.  It is your responsibility to take care of that.  By doing so you may continue to honor the animal whose life force you are using.

Extreme wear:  In the Winter in Ohio I often condition my boots monthly to maintain a waterproof barrier.  Snow and ice can be particularly hard on boots.   If you fall in the river or get caught in a rainstorm/leave your bike locked up outside during a storm.  Water displaces essential oils in leather necessary to preserving it's integrity.  Think of your fingers after a long soak in an Epsom Salt Bath.  They get wrinkly, the same thing happens to leather.  Always condition it after a soak.  Likewise any extended exposure to excessive dry heat can also deplete the oils. 

Break in period:  I advise you to condition a leather product at least twice during the initial break in period.  As the leather stretches and adjusts to your body it is a good idea to make sure all of the fibers are well lubricated.  If you are buying something from me you may know that it has already been conditioned for two years but preventative maintenance is never a bad idea.