shrinking aero anyone?

[Cooperson]

Pics. Give a look. Seriously has this ever happened on any other Aero jackets? Can you think why this may have happened?

Yes we need pics, we love pics, let's see it so we can make informed comments

 

[handymike]

and create an appropriate poll...

 

[Surferbruce]

I stretched out my Vanson (w/ the heavy comp. weight steer) quite a bit after a few months of use. I wiped it down really good with some rubbing alcohol and just went to town on it. I mostly wanted to get another inch or so out of the sleeves, and it really worked well. I was actually standing on the jacket and yarding on the sleeves pretty hard (it's a heavy hide!) at one point. I also put it on and really worked the arms and back (go ahead, give yourself a hug.)

After it was totally dry, I gave it a once over with some Pecards conditioner (with a little more tugging and pulling) and it came out looking all the better and fit perfectly.

I imagine I'll do this again someday as it tightens up, but it's been good to go for the last few months.

 

[Monitor]

I find this... strange and also scary as hell. From my experience, all Aeros I have (had) stretched a tiny bit with wear, and pretty quickly at that. Nothing to write home about but there always was a barely noticeable increase in body length - either that, or it was simply a matter of leather beginning to soften up and break in, thus starting to drape more naturally. In any case, I've never had 'em shorten by themselves, especially not in the body! Sleeves are another matter.

Why this scares me to no end is because my J106 remake that just arrived is the length Ken advised me to go with, which is actually so damn short that half an inch less would efectively kill the jacket.
Same story, when I've sent photos of my previous jacket, even though everyone complained about it being too short, Ken said it's just right and exactly how these jackets are supposed to be worn. But now... If the same fate awaits my jacket, I might as well give it to my girl right now and be done with this whole stinking jacket business that brings me nothing but misery.

Schitzo, the hide you've described, I think I know exactly what you're talking about. The J106 I've recently got, one that was too large, was exactly as how you describe your Hercules. The new one's nothing like it. It's much thicker and grainier and uneven. Whether that's good or not, I've no idea.

IMO, I don't think it's right that the jacket should shrink. Nor stretch, for that matter. Ever. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't one of the points behind tanning to make sure the leather wouldn't change any further?

Either way, pictures, please! Photos!

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

What about getting one of those elephant-ear like hangers and just shower the coat until soaked and then let it dry dripping on the hanger, that will stretch it by its own weight for sure. But maybe it will only stretch in the part just beneath the hanger?

 

[handymike]

I've heard of horsehide jackets shrinking in areas due to the creases that we all love...isn't the texture part of the allure?
I think the issue might be more with our obsession with "the perfect fit" that screws things up. I knew to expect 1/2" rise in the sleeves, and figured it into my order thanks to everyone here and Radu's experience. Length is similar, as the creases form- I'd assume. The issue here seems to be that it happened in the closet, and not on Schitzo's back....That is odd. I still think it might be able to be stretched out. That Horween FQHH is burly stuff.

 

[Cooperson]

I asked for pics so here's one, my Premium 1930's Halfbelt. Just under 3 months old and yes, it did get wet once when walking home from the pub. The back length when new was exactly 25", it's now 24.5" so 1/2" loss in 3 months. Can't see any major creasing in the back at all, which might have explained it, but there it is. Still loving the hell out of this jacket though and wearing it more and more now the weather is getting colder. I just make sure my jeans are hitched up ;-)

 

[nick123]

I hope a jacket just reaches a point where it ceases to shrink any more.
On the other hand, maybe leather jackets can teach us a lesson about life?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impermanence

 

[handymike]

Eeeek! This doesn't bode we'll for any of us. How come know one talked about this before?

 

[nick123]

Eeeek! This doesn't bode we'll for any of us. How come know one talked about this before?

There are a few old threads here where it's been mentioned. Mostly dealing with rain exposure though. Also, I remember someone talking about their naked cowhide jacket that just shrunk spontaneously one day.

 

[Monitor]

So yeah, basically I'm pretty much screwed here. Lovely. Okay, haven't had this happen yet but then again, I never really cared about the length of my HWM.

...or, we can just forget about the whole shrinking matter and simply enjoy wearing our jackets.
I know I won't.

What Handymike said, it really would've been nice if anyone warned us about it...

 

[handymike]

We need Sanfordized Jackets! or pre-soaked HH.

 

[zhz]

Actually, many people told me that the leather jacket will stretch a bit after some wear...

Also, I can understand the sleeve will get shorter with wear, but why the jacket length??

 

[Sloan1874]

The sleeves shortening due to wrinkling, yes. I have trouble with the idea of coated FQHH shrinking in the rain, as it's hardly the most absorbent material in the world - I've been caught in some serious downpours in my jackets and none of them have budged an inch on the body. And een if we're talking about hot water treatment, that requires effort and time to get any lasting effect. There's always Aero's advice on the 501-technique for breaking in jackets: http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/break-in.php

 

[nick123]

Here's one guy, who noted his jacket was stored in a closet in a hot apartment:
http://www.cyclechaos.com/4um/f10/can-leather-jacket-shrink-23143/

 

[Monitor]

Oh the humanity!

 

[Sloan1874]

Heat would soften up the oils and fats in the leather, so by all accounts, the jacket would stretch under it's weight. If he'd said, 'it's misshapen and does fit me properly any more', I'd understand that more. Maybe the guy's hit the gym or the pies[huh]? It's like the episode of Frasier where the father keeps complaining that his trousers have shrunk in the tumble dryer, when its just his love of beer and burgers.

 

[handymike]

Sorry Monitor- you're screwed.

 

[zhz]

en...hot room? It may dries the leather? And this cause the leather to shrink? Sounds like mummy...

 

[Sloan1874]

Unless it was a vintage jacket, I would not expect a leather jacket to show any serious drying out over a summer. Again, look Aero's advice pages on treating a leather jacket: "This is even easier. Do nothing, absolutely nothing. Do not oil it, don't treat it with hide food - even ours, this is for old steerhide jackets and dried up old vintage horsehide jackets from the 1930s and 1940s, not for your Aero, well not until maybe 2035."