Neatsfoot oil questions

wkfl

wkfl

Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Messages
270
Planning to hit a new sheath with neatsfoot oil, folowed by bag-kote. My questions are:how much neatsfoot do you use, and do you coat the inside. Thanks for any insight.
 
Not so sure if bag-kote will adhere well to neastfoot soaked leather. I like something waxy on top of leather if neatsfoot oil is use. Neatsfoot oil is cheap, but smells not so great. Lightly coat the leather with oil two times is sufficient, unless the leather is old and very dry.
 
Depends on how the leather reacts to it. When I apply it to some leather items it soaks right in, letting sitting for a day or two then applying a second coat. Other times it will just sit on the surface slowly soaking in, sometimes it may not soak in at all. If the leather has been dyed the oil with make the dye bleed, in black leather making it a grayish color, other colors it will darken. I use something like shoe polish on top afterwards, seals the leather and will stick to it.
 
gwgang said:
Not so sure if bag-kote will adhere well to neastfoot soaked leather. I like something waxy on top of leather if neatsfoot oil is use. Neatsfoot oil is cheap, but smells not so great. Lightly coat the leather with oil two times is sufficient, unless the leather is old and very dry.
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Neatsfootoil has been used for a very long time,helps to soften/condition all types of leather & adding a waterproofing component. Primerally used in horse tack to soften & condition leather. I always have a bottle around use with discretion.
 
gwgang said:
Not so sure if bag-kote will adhere well to neastfoot soaked leather. I like something waxy on top of leather if neatsfoot oil is use. Neatsfoot oil is cheap, but smells not so great. Lightly coat the leather with oil two times is sufficient, unless the leather is old and very dry.
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Guys, Always use Neatsfoot Oil sparingly, and in multiple coats only if necessary, after the initial coat has leveled out.. Never "soak" the leather with Neatsfoot. If dying the leather, it is generally beneficial to oil first and then dye. The oil actually enhances the penetration of the dye. Some dyes, especially black tend to semi seal the leather making later applications of anything less able to penetrate. Also, my old sniffer isn't what it used to be, but I don't notice any odor at all with the Neatsfoot Oil.

Paul
 
I watched Paul put Neatsfoot on with a q-tip (under the belt loop) - so I know how little he adds.

If I add it - I do the same - some on a rag and let it level for a day. Then add another if I want a little more color or suppleness. But - if you soak it - it will bleed that oil forever - in my experience.

Jason
 
I used to put Neetsfoot oil on a lot of leather work, but over time I've become less of a fan. I've made the mistake a couple times of soaking or putting too much oil on and softening the leather too much. So yes use sparingly.
I have no real proof that Neetsfoot oil allows bacterial growth in the leather but based on personal experience body contact items like belts that get sweated on treated with Neetsfoot oil tend to smell, but when treated with silicone/paraffin based products like Aquaseal they don't
 
I use it on workboots and gloves. A little goes a long way. The worst thing I hear is to saturate leather with it.
 
I've been having some issues with it, after a while of not using the item, especially stuff like boots, there's a white residue that forms almost like mold. Even happened inside the bottle. I always buy the 100% stuff and not the compound, and I've tried several different brands they all have the same thing happen.
 
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