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Anyone tried Aero beeswax or similar?

NZJono

One of the Regulars
Messages
171
Location
New Zealand
Hi all
Considering a new Aero, likely in Vincenza or Goat. I put water on some samples and after about 30mins the Vicenza was soaked through but the goat was impervious and seemed to be highly water resistant. I realise we don’t buy leather jackets as rain coats but it would be nice to have a jacket that can withstand a bit of rain if needed.
I’m sure the Aero beeswax would help repel water if I went with the Vincenza option.
Has anyone tried it or anything similar?. Thanks.
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,562
Location
Australia
Goat is the most water proof and resilient leather going. The Aero goat is substantial and develops character quickly, unlike some of the standard chrome tanned goat often seen on mass produced A2's.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,944
Location
London
Personally i don't see a problem with applying something to the leather...
I have a Golden Bear leather deck jacket that is made from a matt naked cowhide that soaked up water like blotting paper.
Water drop wouldn't even bead, they would soak straight in.
I gave it a couple thin coats of Pecards, it has given the leather a very nice sheen, has helped it retain creases and has made it waterproof. Water now beads on it and nothing soaks through.
The leather never felt greasy or sticky after the treatment.

If you prefer Vicenza, just get a Vicenza jacket. If after living with it you realize it isn't waterproof enough, do something about it then.

Also keep in mind that wet leather doesn't mean you will be wet underneath.
Even my LW was completely soaked a couple weeks back after getting rained on for 4 days straight, the leather was soaked, but water never made it through to the lining and i was never wet in the jacket.
 

NZJono

One of the Regulars
Messages
171
Location
New Zealand
Personally i don't see a problem with applying something to the leather...
I have a Golden Bear leather deck jacket that is made from a matt naked cowhide that soaked up water like blotting paper.
Water drop wouldn't even bead, they would soak straight in.
I gave it a couple thin coats of Pecards, it has given the leather a very nice sheen, has helped it retain creases and has made it waterproof. Water now beads on it and nothing soaks through.
The leather never felt greasy or sticky after the treatment.

If you prefer Vicenza, just get a Vicenza jacket. If after living with it you realize it isn't waterproof enough, do something about it then.

Also keep in mind that wet leather doesn't mean you will be wet underneath.
Even my LW was completely soaked a couple weeks back after getting rained on for 4 days straight, the leather was soaked, but water never made it through to the lining and i was never wet in the jacket.
Thanks, good tips. I really like the navy vincenza.
 

Psant25

One Too Many
Messages
1,607
Well sure a conditioner. I just do not think the wax. Unless you used a very small amount and really worked it in. Ive used a number of conditioners/cleaners/protectors

i like the one JL recommends and also lanlitz tub o shine that comes with their new jackets
 

JacketAddict

One of the Regulars
Messages
188
Agree with Langlitz - one of the best I've used. Suprisingly another great condition/cleaner is Wesco Bees Oil - for leather boots but I have used it on a few jackets and it works great - it seems to darken the leather at first but that does not last once it "soaks" in.
 

dan_t

Practically Family
Messages
950
Location
Sydney, Australia
Generally speaking, chrome tanned will provide substantially better water resistance to veg tanned hides. what about a tumbled cxl fqhh?
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,339
Location
Cleveland, OH
I treat my leather boots with a product called SNO SEAL, which is made from beeswax. It might be 100% beeswax for all I know. It is great. It protects and waterproofs the leather, and helps preserve the leather. It requires a hair dryer to make it heat up enough to soak into and penetrate the pores of the leather. I haven't tried it on a leather jacket, but I've treated wallets and gloves with it, and had the same great results with it. I can think of no reason why it wouldn't work on a leather jacket
 

Ernest P Shackleton

One Too Many
Messages
1,248
Location
Midwest
I believe SnoSeal has silicone in it? Some say that is a no-no. Others don't. I'm not a particular fan of SnoSeal because it seems like it constantly needs to be re-applied, at least more often than others I've tried. It's inexpensive, so that might not be an issue for some. I don't care for how it smells, either. It has a strong chemical stink to it. Another complaint about SnoSeal is that it was originally made for how leather was tanned many years ago. I don't know enough about the history of tanning to know the advancements and how they would benefit from this or that product. Just throwing it out there. As for a hair dryer, I believe leather should always be heated up before applying waterproofing or conditioning. I never do either without using a hair dryer.
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,875
Location
East Java
mink oil also make it somewhat waterproof, with wax I'm afraid it would leave flaky white stuff on the creases once the wax dry, because jacket crease a lot compared to shoes.
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,875
Location
East Java
I once tried applying shoe wax (beewax & carnauba wax) to give some shine back on my jacket, I only apply it here and there not everywhere, only highlighting on the top of bulging out creases using the tip of my index finger only, and buff it out with old tshirt, first I tried with transparent shoe wax, and after some wear I got white flaky stuff crumbling because even on a broken in jacket with settling in creases, those creases aren't permanent, and somehow as we move around the jacket might twist or flap temporarily creases differently and that is enough to break the wax.

so after removing the transparent wax, I tried colored shoe polish (brown) do exactly the same, buff it even more, and it somewhat works, maybe it still cracks and flaking every now and then, but since it is brown it doesn't show.

I tried polishing my brass belt buckle with transparent shoe polish to preserve its patina (since it already have some brown patina and I don't want green stuff patina) on it, now that works :) buckle shines/ gleam more without losing its patina, I just use the inside of my tshirt I'm wearing to buff it whenever it get scratches or dulling from handling
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,339
Location
Cleveland, OH
I believe SnoSeal has silicone in it? Some say that is a no-no. Others don't. I'm not a particular fan of SnoSeal because it seems like it constantly needs to be re-applied, at least more often than others I've tried. It's inexpensive, so that might not be an issue for some. I don't care for how it smells, either. It has a strong chemical stink to it. Another complaint about SnoSeal is that it was originally made for how leather was tanned many years ago. I don't know enough about the history of tanning to know the advancements and how they would benefit from this or that product. Just throwing it out there. As for a hair dryer, I believe leather should always be heated up before applying waterproofing or conditioning. I never do either without using a hair dryer.

I don't think there's any silicone in SNO SEAL, but maybe you're thinking of a different product. The stuff I'm familiar with doesn't have any chemical odor, just a nice beeswaxy odor.

This is the stuff I'm talking about: http://www.atsko.com/sno-seal-wax-8-oz-jar/

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Ernest P Shackleton

One Too Many
Messages
1,248
Location
Midwest
I don't think there's any silicone in SNO SEAL, but maybe you're thinking of a different product. The stuff I'm familiar with doesn't have any chemical odor, just a nice beeswaxy odor.

This is the stuff I'm talking about: http://www.atsko.com/sno-seal-wax-8-oz-jar/
Yes, sir. That's the one. I have some in front of me right now. As pricey as Obenauf's is, I keep other products around for my junky gear and less important.
 

Dr H

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,007
Location
Somerset, UK
I’d steer clear of waterproofing (a capeskin A-1, which had been treated, that I had a decade ago squeaked every time I moved).
My deerskin FW Journeyman is absolutely rock solid in rain - warm, dry, and dries out really quickly with no hardening.
 
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