Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Outside Course!

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
New leather care question-oiling/dipping etc
Topic Started: May 13 2010, 04:07 AM (387 Views)
Jersey Fresh
Member Avatar
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
So I finally got Ty a show bridle that I really, really like on him. Its brand new, medium quality (pessoa rodrigo-better quality than I expected to get, but not a good as edgewood etc). Anyway, its too light and a bit stiff, so it needs to be oiled. The only other brand new bridles I have ever bought have been from Beval-who dip them for you and a the $40 Smartpak schooling bridle that I dont care about.

I dont want it to oil up unevenly so I called the local tack store and leather shop. They dip leather goods but use a high quality mineral oil based mix. Beval used Neatsfoot Compound, which I think its just NF with mineral oil. Will this oil mix harm my bridle? It seems that all of the stores around here that make leather goods (primarily halters etc) use the same type of oil.

I'm worried about doing it myself and getting it uneven or having too much. One of the other boarders had her bridle (about teh same quality) dipped there and it looks perfect but I dont want to ruin this one.

Any advice would be great!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
OpticalIllusion
Member Avatar
You're BANNED!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I am by no means a leather pro, but:

I always just oil mine with Olive Oil. I was told to only ever use natural oils, never synthetic/ man made. I warm it up just a bit and use a soft towel to apply very thin coats until its the color I want. To date, I have not ruined a medium quality show bridle.

I only use my good bridles for showing, and keep them in my tack 'castle' thats temperature controlled so they dont soak up moisture. The less dirt and ick it gets on it the longer your stitching will stay white. Olive oil wont turn your stitching, at least as far as Ive seen.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Twiceshy
Member Avatar
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
No expert here either, I'm just too cheap to pay someone to do it for me. ;)

Most recently I've used the Carr Day & Martin Neatsfoot compound, warmed to just above room temperature. Lightly oiled, working it in with my hands especially on the reins, so that it's slippery but not drenched. I let it soak in overnight. IMO working it in with my hands helps to prevent some of the spotting or uneven staining you sometimes see.

If I'm happy with the outcome, I leave it at that, maybe oiling the reins one more time. If not or think I can get better results I will follow up with another oiling and seal it up in a ziploc bag. I know - it sounds bizarre if not downright stupid but I've had good luck with it so far. I've done this on a range of bridles of varying quality - maybe 5? - so far and have gotten pretty nice results so far.

Good luck!

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · The Barn Aisle · Next Topic »
Add Reply