how many coats of neatsfoot oil?

G

grumpy_grinder

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Oct 2, 2015
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how many coats of neatsfoot oil do you guys apply? the bottle said to dampen the leather then apply with a cloth which is what I did. It seems the leather dried up and is now back to it's original color. I'm a little disapointed. I'm not sure If I have to apply a few coats or if one is sufficient. The brand i got is from tandy leather.

Right after oil
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10 minutes after oil , leather looks dry again
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cheers

grumpy_grinder ....
 
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Well, Grumpy, there are a few factors at play here. First I hope your Tandy brand is PURE Neatsfoot Oil and not Neatsfoot Compound. The Compound contains petroleum distillates which are not very good for leather, but it is significantly cheaper so I guess that's why it even exists.

Next the quality and tanning of your leather is a major factor in how the oil will be absorbed and how much it will color your item. If you leather happened to be import leather and was relatively cheap to purchase, then you may expect multiple coats of oil (almost to the point of saturation) will have little effect on turning the piece to that beautiful golden tan you are looking for. In fact, on many import leathers the oil seems to have no affect at all on color. (The exception being higher price Italian or other European tanned leathers))

Most domestically tanned (USA leather) will accept the oil readily and the color will grow a little darker with each coat, but you should wait until the oil "levels" before adding additional coats until you obtain an acceptable color. Even some USA leathers have this similar problem, but your odds for success are much, much greater when sticking to USA Leather.

Paul
 
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sheathmaker said:
Well, Grumpy, there are a few factors at play here. First I hope your Tandy brand is PURE Neatsfoot Oil and not Neatsfoot Compound. The Compound contains petroleum distillates which are not very good for leather, but it is significantly cheaper so I guess that's why it even exists.

Next the quality and tanning of your leather is a major factor in how the oil will be absorbed and how much it will color your item. If you leather happened to be import leather and was relatively cheap to purchase, then you may expect multiple coats of oil (almost to the point of saturation) will have little effect on turning the piece to that beautiful golden tan you are looking for. In fact, on many import leathers the oil seems to have no affect at all on color. (The exception being higher price Italian or other European tanned leathers))

Most domestically tanned (USA leather) will accept the oil readily and the color will grow a little darker with each coat, but you should wait until the oil "levels" before adding additional coats until you obtain an acceptable color.

Paul
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Thank you Paul very informative. I got my leather from tandy. I'm not certain of the different ty
es of veg tan they have. They have craftsman oak and oakleaf. I think craftsman oak is what I have. I'm just in the learning stage so I scrap a bit of learning from learning curves and mistakes. Once I can a decent sheath I'll move up to a better brand of leather. Maybe saddle soad might be a better finish for me. Something new to try out I guess. Once again thankd paul.

cheers
grumpy
 
Grumpy, Tandy leather is okay, but when you are ordering inquire as to whether it is import or domestic. "Import" is the key word. Domestic is better. Saddle soap is not a very effective alternative for finishing raw leather. While it is great for cleaning finished leathers and burnishing edges, it lacks the ingredients you want for a real finish and can't do the job that PURE Neatsfoot oil can.

If you have Craftsman Oak then it is definitely import leather and is so described in the copy on their web site or catalogs. So that's probably the answer to your problem right there.

Paul
 
Is there a imported hide that could be better then another imported hide I wonder? some europen comes to mind as being better qualoty then let's say hides from china? Just incase there's no domestic in store.
 
I just checked and the Oakleaf leather you mentioned is also imported and so designated on the web site and catalogs.

European hides generally speaking are always pretty good and consistent quality. Italian leathers a nearly always good.
The only way to be positive is to go to the store and select and oil test right there before buying. A good indicator is that if the side is really light color (almost white) then you can probably expect oiling problems.

I use a lot more leather than you do, but that is why I buy from One tannery (Wickett&Craig) and I am assured decent quality and USA Tanning. There are certainly other USA Tanners to choose from but W&C has bee good to me and for me for many years so no reason to change.

Paul
 
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Thanks paul , I had a funny feeling it was , I'll call tomorrow and see If I can get a better quality leather. I would say it would have a big affect on my finishes. i've been somewhat disapointed with this stuff.
 
according to their catalogue the live oak is their top quality. after doing some search Herman oak Is the go to stuff according to many! I'll give it a try! A bit of reading will go a long ways. Althougn I never paid much to leather grades. I figured it was all on par with one another.

cheers

grumpy_grinder
 
I agree with Paul on everything there. I will very seldom ever do more than one coat of oil and I oil everything I make out of veggie tan except the very occasional dyed piece. I have found that warming the oil prior to application helps too. I use a cheap dedicated crock pot for the oil and will plug it in a short time before I need it. I use a paint brush to apply the oil, not too much. If ya want more color while the oil is leveling set it in the sun. But like everything else that can be overdone.
 
thanks dave , most days have been about -10 celsius and not much sun , i'm not sure if the leather would color in that kind of temperature. would putting it in the oven work in the same way i wonder
 
NO!!!!~~~~~~NO OVEN!!!!!!! Leather colors darken in sunlight because of the UV light, not because of the heat.

Paul
 
i guess the only option I would have is to leave it in the window ... hmmmm ... damned northern climates ... why did I move up here ...
 
My local Tandy manager told me early on, any leather they have that says "Craftsman" on it is their lowest quality. After a couple of years working, I can now spot the difference. I really like the Herman Oak, but my local shop only carries full sides, and they want an arm and a leg. Been having good luck with HO double shoulders from Springfield Leather. The HO made a HUGE difference in the quality of my work. My opinion. Rtmind/Randy
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Paul, would a UV grow light work for grumpy in the land of no sun?
Click to expand...

Good idea , I haven't heard of anyone using one but it would only make sense. I really wonder .... there is a significant difference in tone when the leather is left to bronze in the sun. It just really has an appealing look that I like.

good idea zzyzzogeton
 
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