Best Leather Restorer/Conditioner

[HMLFL]

Hi all,

Picked up a Schott 141 in great shape. I searched but didn't find an earlier thread on the following topics.
1. How does one repair/touch up light scuffing at the edge of a Leather Jacket, ie., cuffs, bottom of jacket etc.? Schott suggests using shoe polish.
2. What do you all use to restore suppleness and shine to a leather jacket, I understand that you DON'T want to use waterproofing stuff like silicon based products to allow leather to breath.
3. What might you recommend for removing a small patch and dealing with the tiny thread holes? Some suggest putting another patch, velcro, etc.
4. Sticky zipper - zips up fine but doesn't zip down (really stuck) easily...I've used wax with little success. I suspect oxidation but not sure.

Thanks!

HMLFL

 

[Carlos840]

Hey.

1 One does not repair/retouch light scuffing, they are part of wearing a leather jacket and will keep coming back whatever you do. Just embrace the scuffs and live happy.
I have had Kiwi black shoe polish disolve the top coat of CXL and will never get shoe polish on a jacket ever again.

2 Your 141 is made from naked cowhide, it was never shiny to start with. I can't imagine that a naked cowhide jacket would feel anything but supple, it is a super soft leather.
I have had good luck using Pecard's on naked cowhide before, it gives the leather a certain waxiness and shine, it really helps make it waterproof too. Just be aware that once you put somethign greasy/waxy on naked leather it it will never look the same again.
(this isn't something you should do on a regular basis, leather jackets don't need as much care as leatehr shoes)
I have also used Lexol conditionner, but i would not recommend that on naked leather, IMO it is better suited for shiny ones like Schott HH.

3 There is a tool called a "seam ripper" it costs a couple quid on eBay or in any sewing supply store.
Thread holes are there to stay i'm afraid. Some people have managed to fill them with glue or camoed them with dyes, you could stitch another patch over it, or just let the holes be.

4 If wax/carbon doesn't help maybe it needs breaking in, i have had very sticky zippers get better with age.
If it is already and old zipper it might need tweaking of the puller, i have read about people using pliers to open/close the gaps of pullers, but having never done that i wouldn't be able to tell you what to do.

 

[HMLFL]

Carlos840 - many thanks for your detailed and well informed response. I don't want to harm the jacket and if shoe polish is harmful I won't use it - thanks for that guidance. The leather seems a bit stiff - probably because it is heavy and hasn't been broken in hence the desire to use something to make it feel a bit softer. On the patch, it's a Sturgis patch , I've never been and probably never will so I'll take it off and replace it with a velcro patch that will allow me to add other patches when I want them. I'll try using the zipper a bit more and see if use will loosen them....

Thanks!!

HMLFL

 

[zebedee]

Renapur works wonders, as does Pecard's, but nothing is a permanent fix.

 

[Peacoat]

Here is the link to a discussion about what conditioner to use on a new jacket. The consensus is nothing; just wear it and break it in.

If there isn't as much information as you want in that thread, you can do a search using the term "Leather Conditioner," and you will get all the information known to modern man about what, when and how to use conditioners. Also a lot of when not to use conditioners. This is a topic that periodically arises, and it has been discussed many times over the years.

For a sticky zipper, I have had success with candle wax.

Enjoy the break in; it is only new once.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/leather-conditioner-for-new-a2-repro-jacket.62601/

 

[dannyk]

Yup read that link and search the forum. This has been talked about a lot here with no consensus over which product. The things we do know for sure.
1. Most jackets dont need it for years and years. like 15-20 years, some maybe even longer.
2.Unless maybe sun "damaged/dried out" from some actual use/wear
3. As Carlos pointed out it cant do anything for actual damage.
4. Clean the jacket first, very very gently and lightly with water and a gentle soap or saddle soap.
5. Let it dry completely.
6. Apply the product very sparingly. Think less is more. Let it air dry for a day or two. See if it needs touch ups or a light second coat.
7. As to whats the best again read it all and youll see no one product wins. The most popular seem to be Pecards, Obenaufs, Lexol, Bick. Ive personally used Obenaufs and Pecards and they worked well for me.

 

[Peacoat]

With a new jacket you won't need to do anything for 20 to 25 years (per Aero), unless your jacket gets a lot of wear in weather such as rain and sun. I have a Schott MC jacket that has faded out to grey because of the sun. I could put conditioner on it and restore the suppleness, but that would also destroy the patina and make it look new. I put too many miles on it for that to happen.

So, at this point you shouldn't be thinking about conditioner, but only about wearing it to break it in. If I get a chance I will do a search on breaking in a new leather jacket. We have beat that topic to death as well.

Here is a short discussion on break in that is only two pages in length.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...ick-new-leather-jacket-how-to-break-in.76285/

 

[HMLFL]

Here is the link to a discussion about what conditioner to use on a new jacket. The consensus is nothing; just wear it and break it in.

If there isn't as much information as you want in that thread, you can do a search using the term "Leather Conditioner," and you will get all the information known to modern man about what, when and how to use conditioners. Also a lot of when not to use conditioners. This is a topic that periodically arises, and it has been discussed many times over the years.

For a sticky zipper, I have had success with candle wax.

Enjoy the break in; it is only new once.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/leather-conditioner-for-new-a2-repro-jacket.62601/

Peacoat - Thanks very much. I'll check out the link - I actually searched under Leather Conditioner earlier and didn't pull up anything of interest...prob did something wrong...

 

[HMLFL]

Yup read that link and search the forum. This has been talked about a lot here with no consensus over which product. The things we do know for sure.
1. Most jackets dont need it for years and years. like 15-20 years, some maybe even longer.
2.Unless maybe sun "damaged/dried out" from some actual use/wear
3. As Carlos pointed out it cant do anything for actual damage.
4. Clean the jacket first, very very gently and lightly with water and a gentle soap or saddle soap.
5. Let it dry completely.
6. Apply the product very sparingly. Think less is more. Let it air dry for a day or two. See if it needs touch ups or a light second coat.
7. As to whats the best again read it all and youll see no one product wins. The most popular seem to be Pecards, Obenaufs, Lexol, Bick. Ive personally used Obenaufs and Pecards and they worked well for me.

Dannik - many thanks. I'll try the cleaning and Pecards since it seems to a favorite...among the FL group.

 

[navetsea]

i think Aero guide only applies to their mostly CXL leather, if you wear drier finished leather or naked with minimal coat, or raw vegetable, it needs more frequent care, same if you have drier skin you need more lotion than others with more oily skin to make your skin "appears" healthy

If you dont treat a dry leather the finished surface might crack a bit, some can argue it gives character, probably wont affect their integrity in your lifetime since you don't need to condition suede which is more fragile than finished leather, but I lightly condition mine whenever they feel dry to touch probably once a year if worn frequently.

I tried several products sold at local ace hardware store, sometime leather care product from leather care isle, sometime leather care from car interior/ detailing isle, doesn't matter much (to me) which brand just use it lightly like using body lotion, pour on hand, rub your hands together, then massage it onto leather

sticky zipper I just run candle over it, if you see buildup from oxidation, then probably you need WD40 or other contact spray. spray it on rag, not directly to the zipper, I use PHILIPS service contact spray to clean underarm brass eyelets from green oxidation, contact spray doesn't remove dark patina on metal unlike metal polisher like Brasso

 

[Roll2me]

I use honey leather and I think it works great.

 

[PeterRocco]

Hi all,

Picked up a Schott 141 in great shape. I searched but didn't find an earlier thread on the following topics.
1. How does one repair/touch up light scuffing at the edge of a Leather Jacket, ie., cuffs, bottom of jacket etc.? Schott suggests using shoe polish.
2. What do you all use to restore suppleness and shine to a leather jacket, I understand that you DON'T want to use waterproofing stuff like silicon based products to allow leather to breath.
3. What might you recommend for removing a small patch and dealing with the tiny thread holes? Some suggest putting another patch, velcro, etc.
4. Sticky zipper - zips up fine but doesn't zip down (really stuck) easily...I've used wax with little success. I suspect oxidation but not sure.

Thanks!

HMLFL

Hi
Pecards make a conditioner with die in it and comes in Black and Brown. I have used both with great results. Amazon sells it. Here is my Schott 618 in Brown. The Color faded on the Ends. This is a after picture.

 

[Monitor]

Old thread, I know, but there's been a breakthrough that I need to share!

Using up last drops of Lexol and Pecard's I had left, approximately one year ago I randomly bought some leather grease by the maker that I had never heard of before, called Coccine. Seems to be available only as a tiny bottle at a price of 5 Euros & I found it in a local shoe store. You know how I'm a non-believer when it comes to leather lotions but I hate to be without it so occasionally I would use Coccine on my boots and leather pants, especially if I got caught in the rain.

It wasn't long ago that I, however, began noticing that the boots I'd use it on became significantly softer. At first I wasn't sure if this weird leather lotion had anything to do with it so I began testing it a few months ago, first on an old motorcycle trousers that were quite stiff and later on on my 100oz heavy leather pants that I'm in a love/hate relationship with, how difficult it is to get into them and lastly on my friends MASSIVELY heavy engineer boots.

So for the first time ever, I can safely and surely conclude that this thing indeed does make a difference and a helluva one at that as any type of leather I've used it on thus far became at least 30%+ softer and stretchier. Which is pretty incredible. Even the boots became a bit more comfortable and the leather on these was iron stiff.

So while I've no clue what's in it, it definitely works. I don't know if it's available to all of you but it definitely is worth a try.

 

[Peacoat]

Thanks for the heads up.

Never seen it locally, but it is probably available online.