leather handle maintenance

[carl wilson]

I have several old knives with leather washer handles. How do I keep them from shrinking and maintain them?

 

[rev_jch]

Well, there are many ways. For handles that are old and "slightly" starting to break down, warm neats foot oil in a coffee can works well. You soak it (the handle) in the can for a few days.

Another way is hot wax (this is better for handles that are starting to loosen). You can take melted wax (parafin, or bees wax) in a coffee can and soak the knife (handle) in it for a few minutes, and take it out and wipe off the excess.

Also, for newer handles renaissance wax http://www.heimerdingercutlery.com/...Product_ID=1100&CFID=5821073&CFTOKEN=75617157 works well. I use it on my newer marbles ideal.

 

[Death's Head]

If you want the quick and easy technique for leather maintenance. Use Lexol leather conditioner on a soft cotton rag. It will not shrink the leather or make it slippery.

 

[Blue Sky]

Another way is hot wax (this is better for handles that are starting to loosen). You can take melted wax (parafin, or bees wax) in a coffee can and soak the knife (handle) in it for a few minutes, and take it out and wipe off the excess.

Are you saying this causes the leather to swell and thus tighten up again?

 

[rev_jch]

Yes, it will. It does depend on how much the handle has loosened though. If it has loosened too much however, it will do it no good.

I have used this technique before with good results (probably been over 20 years ago? But Im sure it still works just fine ).

 

[Blue Sky]

Thanks, I have a leather handle in just such a state and have been looking for a cure.

 

[rev_jch]

Your very welcome!

Just make sure that wax is hot and melted! If it is too cool it will not do much good. You want it hot so it will penetrate the leather!! Make sure you drop the handle in all the way at once.

Also remember, if it has leather spacers missing, or spacers it will be too loose to try to fix with this. In a case like that you will need to dismantle the handle and make new spacers.

 

[rifon2]

Lexol is good, neatsfoot oil is good, and another good treatment is mink oil.
But it's got to be the real thing, not the crap that's sold as mink oil all over the place - in shoe polish type tins - which is mostly silicone.

 

[Death's Head]

Also, with any leather care product, use sparingly.