leather dressing

[Mr. Kent]

I know this topic has come up a bit, but I need some clarification. When putting leather dressing on a whip, how much should one use if the whip is mildly dry vs. very dry. What I'm asking for is a visual. For example: a teaspoon, tablespoon. Every time I put dressing on I'm always wondering if I'm putting on too little or too much. I have two 8 foots and a 10 footer. Thanks again...

[Marhala]

Hi. I don't know which dressing you're using. Perhaps it's Pecards... I think it was Dan Borton who said the size was that of a little coin (a quarter, 00.50?), rub it in your palms and dress the thong thoroughly, going from the thick end, to the point. I usually use plaiting soap, and rub some of it in my hands, and rub the thong as described.

You can try little and let it be absorbed overnight or perhaps for two days. If it is still dry, rub in a little more. The idea is to have it neither dry and crackling nor moist and dripping. You'll see that even a small amount of dressing will turn the thong very supple in a few days... I think less applied more frequently is better than too much, applied sparingly.

I have an old whip which had not been dressed in around 5 years. It was ok, but a bit on the dry side. I gave it a heavy dressing last year around April, and another, lighter one by December. It seems it still doesn't need another dressing. Do grease the fall often... perhaps every 3rd day or every week depending on how much you use it. I grease the point every 1-2 months, very, very lightly. I might start greasing the whole thong very lightly more often... perhaps every two months?

Hope that helps.

Aldo.

[Canuck Digger]

I think what Aldo said about putting on less but more often is right on.

Thin coats are easier for the leather to soak in than a thick splattering of grease.

When a whip is made, there is usually a fair amount of plaiting soap (which is mainly fat) put into the whip, so that all you really need to do is replenish the outer coat periodically.

The amount depends on the state of the whip and its size; after all a longer whip will require a bit more than a short one. For a long whip I might use roughly the same amount as in a single cup serving of butter (like at the diner), maybe a bit less. If you put a bit too much, don't freak out. You're not going to kill your whip. Just go over it again with a more firm grasp of your hand so you scoop up the excess grease in your palm and scrape it back either into your pot of dressing or in a separate container if your are concerned about the color of the dressing having been altered by its contact with your whip (say if you rubbed it on a black whip and your other whip is very light in color... you may want to scoop the extra dressing into another container).

Next time, you will know how much to put on. I mean don't over think this. If the whip still feels greasy in a few days time, just wipe off the excess with a lint-free cloth and Bob's yer uncle. Just stay on top of it, you don't want to stop dressing a whip for years at a time; that's just not very good for any leather, especially not one that has to work as hard as a whip does.

Hope this helps,

Franco

[Mr. Kent]

Thanks for the replies. Appreciated!

[Kiscien]

Hi,

Here is what you want

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxnT3AOD ... annel_page

Regards,
Karol Bilecki
http://kiscienwhips.knives.pl

[Yoyoyoman35]

I would say that you should look at the whip and think, these are my hands and they look a little dry. How much cream/lotion should I put on? Then just apply that to leather dressing.