The Sno-seal difference

longbow50

longbow50

Joined
Jul 12, 2002
Messages
3,291
I received my NorthStar sheath the other day and it's a great sheath, but a tad lite in color for my taste, so I got some tips on how to protect and at the same time, darken it to my taste. SNO-SEAL! :D

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You can get Sno-Seal at any outdoor retailer like EMS, REI, or many others. A lot of Army-Navy stores also carry it.
 
Brian Jones said:
You can get Sno-Seal at any outdoor retailer like EMS, REI, or many others. A lot of Army-Navy stores also carry it.
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Thanks, I'll check around my area!
 
Just follow the directions on the label. They say to use a cleaner to get rid of the oily fingerprints and dirt that might be on the leather first, because those areas will turn black. I saw mention of everclear and alcohol being used. I preheated our toaster oven to 200 degrees and then turned it off and placed the sheath on a oven tray and placed it inside and closed the door. I left it in long enough (30 seconds or so) to warm the leather. Was still easy to handle without discomfort and I applied a good coating of the sno-seal. I rubbed it in with a wash cloth and wiped off the extra. I let the sheath cool and then repeated the process. It came out pretty nice. One small area near the lip of the sheath turned blackish, but other than that, the color came out nice and even front and rear.
 
Thanks longbow, BRK&T sheaths are the same reason I want it. I love there sheaths but the leather looks better darker.
 
Sno-Seal is the only waterproofing I ever use on boots. Smear it on, then hit 'em with a hair dryer. Works great.
 
Scott Ridgeway said:
Sno-Seal is the only waterproofing I ever use on boots. Smear it on, then hit 'em with a hair dryer. Works great.
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I've used it from Georgia to Mississippi to the Rockies. If you've to treat your boots, it's the only way to go.

My recipe:
1) Preheat Oven to 200, then turn it off
2) Slather a good coat all over, paying particular attention to stitching, seams, etc.
3) Work it in good.
4) Put the boots in the cooling oven till it pretty much soaks in.
5) Spot heat with a heat gun as required.
 
Scott Ridgeway said:
Sno-Seal is the only waterproofing I ever use on boots. Smear it on, then hit 'em with a hair dryer. Works great.
Click to expand...

That's my method. Though I used to have a hot air popcorn popper and that worked very well too. I could hold the boots under the chute and apply/rub in the Sno-Seal at the same time. The beeswax makes it smell good too!

I know a lot of custom makers dip their leather sheaths in melted beeswax. I think that is probably a better method, but it requires having lots of beeswax and a double boiler to melt it in. Sno-Seal is much easier for someone doing one or two sheaths.

Sno-seal keeps well too. I've had other leather preservatives (mink oil and Lexol) get very weird/rancid after being stored for a few years.
 
Is the sno-seal you'all are talking about a spray on can or a paste like shoe polish?

I went to the store today and all they cary is the spray, they said they had the paste about 10 years ago. Wasn't sure I was buying the same thing you folks are using, so I held off buying it.

Is the stuff you are talking about a spray can?
 
Snowseal is great but don't forget nixwax. There is a white tube variety available that is similar to snowseal and sometimes more readily available. That is how I finished my Northstar sheath as well as the Bark River Knife and Tool Kayak knife prototype/tester.

Kevin
 
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