Conditioning Leathers

[BoltonSte]

I'm had my leathers for a bit now, mostly in storage because I didn't have a bike, I'm pretty sre that they have stiffened up since I got them (not from pies, before anyone suggests it )

What's the best thing out there to condition them and soften them up?

The gloves need it as well.

Cheers

Ste

Nikwax leather restorer is worth a go, it also gives them a little waterproofing, making water bead up and run off (in a light shower).

[rictus01]

Take a little care with that as the more liquid version has been known to rot stitching, try to get hold of one of the more solid wax type ones ( a number out there) generally I look for a blend of beeswax and linseed oil.

If they have been stored for sometime, with a cloth work it in to the leather gently (don't try to straighten or stretch dry leather), and leave a residue on it, let it soak in for a day or two, when you come back most will have been absorbed, re-apply and then buff off, if still stiff, repeat until you get the original flex back.

As with most things, provention is better than cure, before leaving leathers for anytime apply a coating and don't buff off, it'll hold any drying out for about a year in normal conditions.

Cheers Mark.

I didn't realise that the Nikwax stuff rots stitching

Good to know though, I'll use something else in future..

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

I didn't realise that the Nikwax stuff rots stitching

Good to know though, I'll use something else in future..

yeah, not the solid tub one, but the metal bottle/tin thing has some sort of alcohol to aid dispersion that evaporates away.

I normally get one of the £10 pots from the NEC, you know the guys that'll clean your boots for you there, lasts me a couple of years and I've a lot of leather stuff, so I'd imagine on just one set of leathers/boots & gloves would be good for perhaps 4-5 years, not bad for £10.

Just with a little care and that stuff I've leathers that are over 20 years old and still as flexible as they ever were.

Cheers Mark.

[rictus01]

Oh and just another quick one on storage of leathers, don't wrap them in plastic bags either, they need to breath.

Cheers Mark.

[fizzwheel]

Since I've had mine I rub renapur into them before I put them away for the winter. They stayed nice and supple. I also used the renapur on a pair of Alpinestars gloves that had gone crispy and stiff and it restored the supplness in those to.

http://www.renapur.com/

+1, 100% Agree with Fizz that stuff is Sh*t hot for all leather including shoes.

[Lissa]

Originally Posted by neio79

+1, 100% Agree with Fizz that stuff is Sh*t hot for all leather including shoes.

+1 also. Use it for boots, leathers, gloves.............brilliant stuff.

Originally Posted by rictus01

yeah, not the solid tub one, but the metal bottle/tin thing has some sort of alcohol to aid dispersion that evaporates away.

As selling motorcycle leathers was my primary source of income for many years I know a bit about these sorts of things. It's actually the more solid type of conditioner that does more damage to suits. The beeswax types gets forced into the seams while being applied and sit there collecting grit and road dirt and turning abrasive, that's what damages the stitching as leather suits tend to be more flexible than boots etc - Nikwax liquid is actually a very good product and I've never heard of it harming stitching before. The people who know about these things recommend a more liquid type of conditioner be used on suits because they tend to be absorbed better by the leather. For boots I still use good old beeswax products like Rennapur - my Daytonas are now 7 years old and are in perfect nick.

Liquid Leather by Gliptone is another liquid conditioner that comes highly recommended and is what I've been using for years now.