OMG- the HWT is awesome!

[handymike]

Ok, so I've been hesitant to use the HWT to shrink or change things about horsehide jackets, but after today I'm a believer.
I used my favorite vintage Horsehide jacket to experiment.
It's from the 40s. It's a favorite except I felt the sleeves were a bit short (1-2"). So I started there.
After about 1min of hot water soaking the leather suddenly softened up and became maleable. I put the jacket on and stretched the sleeves to where I wanted the length to be...
Then I laid it flat to dry- stretching again every once in awhile....not quite dry yet, but looking promising!
It's kind of like Blocking a sweater after washing.
Thanks for the encouragement guys!!!!

 

[Jeff M]

Let us know how the treatment affected the hand of the leather.
My experience has been that it stiffens it.

 

[handymike]

70 year old horsehide isn't the most supple of hides...
but I'll let you know about any changes. It's not fully dry yet.
;-)

 

[apba1166]

It is always the lining that is the issue....not the leather.

 

[handymike]

I'm in agreement with you there Abpa. This jacket has been relined and it's not a perfect job. There are a couple of places where there are some strange puckers (like in the back below the 1/2 belt). Once I got the leather wet, I realized it was probably the liner keeping the sleeves too short. There are some holes in the liner already, and I'm of half a mind to cut the whole thing out and use the jacket un-lined for awhile.

 

[Seb Lucas]

My experience is that the sleeves will gradually shrink back, but it may take a few weeks. I've heard of guys that stretch the leather every 3 months. I hope yours are there to stay.

 

[handymike]

Thanks Seb! I have to say that after slashing the liner in a few spots the jacket now hangs very well...
I hope it stays this way too...it's gone from a jacket I was thinking of sending to Greece for a repro with sleeve length added to my favorite leather jacket this afternoon.

 

[handymike]

Next day update- Jeff was right, the hide is a bit stiff along the collar, but it held the shape very nicely. As I mentioned, the hide was not the most supple to begin with, but a quick coating of Dr. Jacksons Hide Rejuvenator seems to have restored it back to the flexibility that it was before the HWT...
Now I need to get a new liner.