I have a pair of brown leather steel toed wolverine brand work boots. Ive had them a while, and just cleaned them, and now they are drying. Whats the best oil or whatnot to treat them with? I don't care if it darkens them or anything, I just want to protect them, as I wear them in all sorts of conditions.
Joey
Kiwi brown shoe polish. Also, are they leather, or suede? (I ask because a lot of work boots are suede). If they're leather leather, get your hands on some Doc Martens shoe balm. It's made to keep their shoes/boots nice and soft, and lemme tell ya, it works great.
On all of my leather boots I use Mink Oil. It helps waterproof(to an extent) and no salt stain/watermarks. On brushed suede work boots, any old silicone spray works pretty good.
I use Saddle Soap. Kiwi
Mink Oil
<<<Been wearing the same boots almost every time he wears jeans for the past seven years.
Oh, according to the ancient owner of the redwing store near me, saddle soap actually dries them out.
I used dubbin on a pair of boots I bought three and a half years ago. Did it once when they were new and I think once or twice thereafter. I've worn them so much that the rubber soles are BALD but they've held up really well. I wear them every day during the winter... The leather is still soft and flexible but kinda discoloured (darkened) now. I think it's just worn-in dirt.
Don't remember what brand, sorry.
mtn wrote: Oh, according to the ancient owner of the redwing store near me, saddle soap actually dries them out.
I am wearing a pair of 12yr old leather shoes right now that are as soft as a that old lyin' bastard's hootus 
How do they get the oil out of the mink?
+1 on the mink oil.
Mink oil it is, then. I always spray new shoes with some kind of silicone water proofer. Any recs on this?
Joey
I have been led to believe that saddle soap cleans the leather, you then follow up with another tincture to preserve the leather. I use Sno-Seal or Aqua-Seal most of the time.
Otto Maddox wrote: How do they get the oil out of the mink?
Carefully. Very carefully.
All I know is Mink oil has a very strange smell if you use the aerosol variety. Mink oil is a product of the fur business, I don't know if it comes from the pelts or a gland, nor do I really car.
For softening dried out leather I would find a nice light leather oil. I bought a bunch at the swap meat once, it was a pine based oil, but you can use whichever you'd like. My uncle was in the luggage repair business and he used neatsfoot oil, but basically I think almost any light oil can be used to condition leather. Go to the local saddlery or leather supply store and just get some nice light leather oil.
When I bought my tough leather jacket it was very dried out. I basically lathered it in oil to soften it and hit is with some die and it is nice now. Put oil into your boots until the leather won't take any more, probably 4-5 applications. I was very surprised how much oil dried leather can absorb. Then hit it with dye, then polish, then drink a beer.
Beeswax sealers aren't great for leather as they seal the pours off and also can attract dirt if the sealer is applied too thickly. I would apply the sealer to where the boots need it the most, which is around the base and the seams. Aside from leather the seams are the weakest point in the boots.
Saddle soap is for cleaning and softening. I'm not saying you need to oil/polish them after, but it's probably a good idea.
What does Wolverine reccommend?
triumph5 wrote: What does Wolverine reccommend?
The Brotherhood counts in it's ranks a Mutant that actually crys oil. Wolverine just beats him up.
Mink oil in the tub is the way to go. And, not to disappoint, but it's actually a petrochemical. No actual mink involved. sadly.
I condition all of my leather with Pecards including the stuff that I make before I send it out to people.
I thought this was a thread about cooking a steak going very, very wrong.
This here is some good stuff: http://www.norvgen.com/
Ironically my kids use saddle soap to clean actual saddles. They use mink oil to condition them. Any of the "all in one " type products are a bad idea. The same goes for any of the silicon or sealant products
I use this on my Docs: http://www.dmusastore.com/p-1573-wonder-balsam-neutral.aspx
So far I have gotten more than a decade out of one tub.
Osterkraut wrote: Saddle soap is for cleaning and softening. I'm not saying you need to oil/polish them after, but it's probably a good idea.
Well, sure. That is how they get all shiny and black again.
Mink oil a couple times a year and Kiwi on a regular basis. Did that to my army boots and they lasted years. Even had one pair of jump boots I kept re-soleing, wore them over 10 years. Still have them.
Oh and be careful about some of the other stuff as they will make the leather last longer but rot the stitching thread.
You'll need to log in to post.
