Leather care

Robert LarsonContributor - January 16, 2021

AdviceGear

My wife has a conceal carry purse by a company called Gun Tote’n Mamas. While the design is great, the build quality is not the best. She got the purse two years ago and the leather faded extremely quickly and didn’t even look a nice worn look, but just looks ugly. The zipper is also a weak point on the bag and the zip keeps coming apart. All this within a year. We called them up and they sent us a new one.

The new bag had the same issues of poor zipper quality and leather fading quickly after just a year. This time we have contacted them multiple times and they won’t get back to us. So we are trying to make due the best that we can with what we have. 

I used some pliers and crimped the zipper and it now zips shut properly, so that problem is solved, but we still have some really ugly faded leather.

What do you do for your leather gear? Gun holsters, knife sheaths, purses, belts, etc… How do you keep it hydrated, prevent cracking, and keeping it look nice?

-Be Prepared-

8  

Robert,

The Lexol folks recommend their product as best for leather care.  They also say saddle soap is not the ideal preservative for leather.

I personally use pine oil to clean away any mildew/mold and then saddle soap.

I don’t have gun holsters; just thick leather pouches for navigation instruments. Well buffed saddle soap works for me understanding that there’s no cosmetic aspect to the pouches.

 

I use Oakwood Leather Conditioning Cream to hydrate the leather and then a layer of Otter Wax (for waterproofing) every few months on my leather ankle boots which I wear in all weather conditions. I wear them so often I’ve had to get the heels replaced because I wore them down but with this combo treatment the leather looks like I just unboxed them. 

 

That looks like a good product. Thanks for sharing. 

I use Otter Wax on my Sunday church shoes and it does a great job of waterproofing them.

-Be Prepared-

 

I know a person who swore by Simonez car wax. Her leather coats and purses always looked to be in very good condition.

I use saddle soap and leather conditioner on our leather goods.

 

Also, I see what you mean about the zipper. That is a big concern considering why she is carrying the bag. The quality is an issue. 

Value Village usually have a large selection of purses and other bags. You might be able to find something there. They have sales (advertised on the website) and if you know someone to go with you, seniors 30% discounts in some stores (you can also check with the store to confirm if they offer it).

 

Hi Robert,

I just found a Beeswax Leather Polish that might help. (This is what happens when you re-organize your home to make more prepping space).

The recipe was used to condition harnesses, saddles, boots, bridles, luggage, and leather-bound books. My caveat: always test in an inconspicous place first and some of the ingredients are flammable. Personally, I would do it outside because of the turpentine.

Here’s the recipe:

Beeswax Leather Polish

Makes about 1 quart

3 ounces beeswax

1 ounce, white, bleached beeswax

1 pint pure turpentine

2 cups water

1 ounce pure soap flakes or shredded castile soap

Tightly stoppered bottle(s)

1. In a nonplastic container, shred waxes into turpentine, cover and allow to dissolve.

Or: warm turpentine and wax in a double boiler until wax is dissolved. Note: If using double boiler, use extreme caution, as both wax and turpentine are flammable.

2. Bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add soap and stir until dissolved. Let mixture cool. Add it to the wax/turpentine, stirring rapidly to prevent striation. 

3. Pour the mixture into bottle(s) and seal. Always shake well before using. Use sparingly.

 

oh wow! Thank you for taking the time to share that with me! I’ll have to think about making some.

I just have that one purse of my wife’s that I need to treat, but if I had something like some cowboy boots, saddle, sheath, and other leather goods, I’m sure making something like this would be a good investment.

-Be Prepared-

 

Dave at Saddleback Leather carries Chamberlain’s line of products, and he makes some pretty serious product. Be careful what you use on carried items (like this one in the OP), as it can often rub off onto clothes and be unsightly.