Breathing new life into old leather.

Shoki

Shoki

Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
7,395
I've got a vintage motorcycle jacket that I found in the thrift store for $20 that I'd like to spruce up. The leather is in really good shape, no cracks or rub marks, but it feels a bit dry and stiff. I think it might have been a really nice/expensive jacket at one point and I'd like to return it to it's former state but I don't know what to do. I've found lots of products online but many seem to be geared more towards maintaining leather rather than restoring it. Is there a particular 'you gotta use this' product I should try? Maybe a home-remedy like some sort of household oil?
 
I would try lexol conditioner. It's for car seats but I don't know why it wouldn't work on a jacket.
 
I use Lexol on my A2's. Works great. I have a couple that are over 30 yr old and still like new.
 
+3 Lexol. We used on tack[saddles, reins et al]. Heard stories of it being used to restore War between the States era leather that was very dry in addition to being old.
 
Lexol is great but I have becom addicted to Obenauf's lately. It may be quite a job doing a jacket with it but it is a great product and if you are like me you will love the smell of it.
 
Lexol is great. So is Obenauf's.

If you have something rigid like a wooden chest covered with leather then you can use linseed oil on it. Don't use it on any leather that you might want to bend someday.
 
I would try melted beeswax and work a bit by bit. It's waterproof and perhaps one of the best leather moisturizer.
Your jacket, which grain is it? rough-out? smooth?

I applied beeswax and rub it on leather boots like a slave on a pirate ship and it glows like mad.
 
Leather Honey -
http://www.leatherhoney.com/product_apparel.cfm

When I was in the navy in the 80's, this is (I think?) what some of our bomber drivers used on their jackets. Some of them were still wearing the same jackets from their mid-70's flying days. Seemed to work really well, keeping the newer leather soft and loosening up the old stiffened-up stuff.

I'm not sure though. I'm exhausted, grumpy, and my memory is probably shot. Who knows? So, if you use Leather Honey, and your jacket melts - or worse, (edited - I forgot, this ain't W&C) it's not my fault.
:D

~Chris
 
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I bought a 'pile' of leather jacket at a yard sale. It was an old biker jacket that had gotten absolutely soaked then stuffed into a corner of a hot attic for 25+ years. Almost a solid 'chunk' of leather. On the recommendation of a dry cleaning shop, I soaked it in "ArmorALL" and wore it for the next 25 years. The ArmorALL made it feel like a new jacket. All I had to do was clean off the gray mold, wipe off the excess ArmorALL and I was good to go. My son is wearing the jacket these days, giving it a yearly wipedown with ArmorALL. I don't think I would have tried this on new leather, but for a yard sale jacket it was certainly worth a try, and worked like a charm!

Stitchawl
 
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