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I just re-covered (and recovered) an old saddle with some leather from a sofa I saved.
I stuck it PU side down (as the PU will rub off and I fancied the "raw" look) and now wondering should I treat the leather with something?
Obviously not something will dye my ass....
Can’t go wrong with saddle soap from your local equestrian suppliers, or if none nearby from your local online multinational
NAF Natural Animal Feeds Leather Saddle Soap https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ZCMNBUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_0Sk5Fb702RFXP
Cool, I'll give that a go after XMAS.
Oh and happy XMAS ...
Can’t go wrong with saddle soap
Not sure... Brooks specifically says don't use saddle soap on their saddles...
Might be it is purely to use their own Proofide instead, but might be there is something to that...
Cheers!
I.
Not sure… Brooks specifically says don’t use saddle soap on their saddles…
Well they are pretty hard leather that the leather holds the shape... I suppose it might make them soft
I ran out of proof hide for my brooks.
My wife had been given some fancy face cream she didn't like.....
It worked well for about half the time a proof hide treatment would work.
Give something a go. What's the worst that can happen?
(I'd definitely be wearing black shorts for quite a few rides at the start : )
Brooks specifically says don’t use saddle soap on their saddles…
Might be it is purely to use their own Proofide instead, but might be there is something to that…
As long as OP’s leather cover is fixed/stuck down well I can’t foresee many problems with any leather treatment as long as it doesn’t dissolve any adhesive or dye? Try small section first? Dab with white paper towel to see if colour is coming out?
As for adhesive being dissolved, if it’s bicast (PU-coated) leather as OP seems to say then the PU layer is probably the bigger concern over the leather as certain oils are known to break PU down quickly
Body oils can break down the surface coating very quickly, in some cases within months of purchase.
https://leatherrepaircompany.com/bi-cast-leather/
Treating bi-cast (?) leather that has been fixed to a rigid surface is not really comparable with Brooks leather saddles or their treatment. AFAIK as the leather of those is suspended from a frame like a hammock, hence care needed not to stretch/sag. Presumably OP’s cover won’t move, just a matter of treating it from drying out and cracking over time?
As long as OP’s leather cover is fixed/stuck down well I can’t foresee many problems with any leather treatment as long as it doesn’t dissolve any adhesive or dye? Try small section first? Dab with white paper towel to see if colour is coming out?
Yeah good point, I've got loads (like a sofa worth) so I might try some seal fat I have and see what that's like, it works well on jackets and boots.
Well, the seal fat didn't cause any dye leakage on the test or affect the loctite extreme glue so I've gone ahead and covered the saddle.
It's currently soaking in... smoothed down the texture a bit but I'm sure it won't get wet through the leather...