Dryer softening alternative?

Discuss technique for prolonging the life of your gear or giving it that aged look

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Rosenet
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Dryer softening alternative?

Post by Rosenet »

I've been reading all about the dryer-pillow jacket softening method. However I don't own a dryer and it'll cost me about $87 for 40 hours of drying at the laundromat. Any alternative suggestions for how to soften a Wested goat? I've had my Cabelas safari shirt between my mattress and box spring for a couple of weeks and it has wrinkled up nicely so I was thinking that might be the way to go with the jacket.
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IndyBlues
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Post by IndyBlues »

Well, after I gave my Wested goat a complete rubdown with 91% isoproyl alcohol, it softened up alot. The alcohol removed the top "shiny" layer of the leather, and gave it a nice soft feel. Just don't rub too hard, or you will start removing color.
Just a suggestion
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Post by FLATHEAD »

If you can stand it, wear the jacket to bed a bunch of times.

Put it on, zip it up, and wear it to bed. That will help soften it
up alot.

However, I would put something around your neck to protect
the jacket from coming in contact with your neck/lower chin area
because it can pick up alot of oils from your skin, which can discolor
your leather.

A few nights sleep in the jacket should soften it up quite a bit.

Flathead
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Dalexs
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Post by Dalexs »

Another thing to do is NOT hang it up. Take it off, ball it up, toss in corner of room, office, or wearever.
That what I did, and it did wonders with my FS Goat, which is much harder to distress then Wested.
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