Olive oil question

[Indiana Joyce]

I've heard a few people say they rubbed olive oil into their jackets. Do you mean actual olive oil from the grocery store? And you just rub it in? I'll try pretty much anything.

[Indyzane]

[nicktheguy]

It's a leather jacket, not a salad

[RCSignals]

was his name Popeye?

[Imahomer]

and what did you hear was the purpose of this?????

[RaidersBash]

You can do a little internet research and read a great deal about the history of olive oil in regards to leather care.

Olive Oil has been used as a leather treatment for thousands of years. I'm familiar with it in regards to tacking care of saddles and other tack, and temporary smell aside, I've never experienced any adverse affects beyond darkening the leather.

I've used it on leather for years, saddles and headstalls, but also on boots, belts, holsters and other leather goods. Just buy some pure Extra Virgin oil and see for yourself.

There's no reason not to use it on a jacket, other than it will darken the leather to some degree. more applications, darker the leather. i've never noticed bugs being attracted to my boots or saddles...that's "horse-puckey"

if not, what a shame for all those cultures around the world that use olive oil for their hair and skin...think they would've given it up if it was a insect attractant...

if you're putting it to your jacket, use a sponge (oil will soak into a rag or anything else), then rub it on and look for a uniform coating...you'll be able to see it pretty easily. you might want to practice on something like an old belt though to make sure you'll like it before going all out on your jacket.

[Indiana Joyce]

Thanks Raiders. I knew I had seen someone talking somewhere on this board about using oil, but couldnt find the thread. I rubbed Pecards on my Todd jacket to try to revitalize the areas that had gotten a little too stiff for my liking, to no effect. I had depleted the natural oils in some spots when i showered the jacket in hot water instead of cold.

[Michaelson]

Well, you can always do a search, like I did.

This popped up at the top of the list. Scroll down to the discussion:

http://www.tipking.co.uk/tip/738.html

Then there was this one:

http://www.allthatsolive.com/cleaning-l ... e-oil.html

Strong opinions from two completely different camps.

Either way, proceed at your own risk. It's your gear, so do due dilligence with your research before proceeding with anything if you're not wanting to get into an irreversible situation.

Once you've commiitted your gear, it's tough if downright impossible to back out of it, so be sure. Once you've made up your mind, lock and load...or not. It's really your call.

Regards! Michaelson

[RaidersBash]

Here's some links regarding saddle care from Horse Tack sites, and professional saddle makers...these were found on the first and second page of a google search using "olive oil saddle care"

I stayed away from forums. I saw several that were pro, and one that had a negative response, but wanted to stick to the saddle makers and suppliers as "professionals."

Anyone is free of course to continue deeper into the google search pages and see what they can find to form their own opinion, but again, i'd suggest sticking to the professionals...and then maybe try if for themselves, ya know...research...scientific method and all that...

http://www.tnthorseequipment.com/saddle_care.htm
"There are several different oils and conditioning products out on the market today that work well. We recommend using natural oils and creams as they are not petroleum or alcohol based which is hard on the leather and stitching of your saddle. We recommend:

Light Cleaning/Conditioning: Bick 1 and 4 Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. These products will not change the color of the leather.
Deep Oil and Conditioning - Extra Virgin olive oil (great for light colored saddles), peanut oil (great oil but will darken the color of the saddle) or Dr. Jackson's Hide Rejuvenator (again, great for light colored saddles)."


http://www.casaziasaddlery.com/saddle-fit-guide.html
"Moisturizing:
There are different types of leather care, but my personal preference is to use pure olive oil. This method of care has been handed down by saddle professionals all of my life.
I prefer olive oil to the many other choices because leather will absorb it more than any other oil. A bottle of pure olive oil will cost about 35 dollars a bottle depending on where you buy it and can save a rider hundreds of dollars and precious years of saddle life."

http://www.terisstore.com/saddle-care/
"Oil your leather saddle with light oil. To keep the leather soft and pliable, oil it with light oil. [] Olive oil or other light oil will also work.

http://www.synergistsaddles.com/horse-t ... e-care.htm
"If your leather shows any sign of cracking it’s a good idea to oil it before conditioning. We use plain olive oil for this. It really penetrates the leather and it’s relatively cheap when compared to some of the other products available for this."

http://www.kentsaddlery.com.au/saddles/saddle-care.php
"...oil is ideal for a new saddle because it soaks into the leather very easily and it can be poured or squirted (with a kitchen squirt bottle) into hard to reach places. Pure vegetable oil or olive oil is also good."

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/co ... cking.html
(This is about bicycles)
"To soften and waterproof a saddle I always used olive oil. Turn the saddle upside down and run oil onto the underside turning the saddle to encourage the oil to run around, especially near the rivets. Let the saddle soak overnight. This is why these saddles were undrilled. The leather can be hammered with the rawhide mallet to soften it.

I have done this to my saddles since 1960 and no harm has come to the leather."

http://www.eldoradosaddle.com/saddlecare.asp
"Conditioning Your Saddle
After your saddle has completely dried, it is time to condition it. Many of the food oils such as peanut and olive oil work well for conditioning. These food oils have a tendency to darken the leather, so you will want to test in an inconspicuous area. We recommend Aussie Conditioner which contains bees wax made by The Fiebings Company. Aussie leaves your saddle leather soft and supple."


http://www.american-flex.com/saddlecare.htm
http://www.redskysaddle.net/saddlecare.htm

[Forrest For the Trees]

Sounds like a bad idea to me. I've been told that if there is any potential for it going rancid, steer clear.

[lantzn]

Caution!!!

Generally, you do not want to apply organic treatments to leather jackets. Go Green? No!!!! The problem? Well, I love olive oil on my food. It makes it more appealing. Little critters feel the same way. You'd be making your jacket a very attractive buffet for parasites - from bacteria to fly larva. Use inorganic treatments - generally petroleum-based. Don't turn your jacket into a petri dish...

Yeah and it might turn rancid from not being refrigerated. Stick with non-organic.

[RaidersBash]

I've been using it on saddles and tack for over 20 years. i've never had anything go "rancid." There is a HUGE difference between a full bottle of something to go bad in a cupboard, and a thin application.

An open bottle of wine will go bad. If i spill a glass on my hardwood floor and wipe it up...does my floor stink because of the wine that soaked into the wood?

If it was a problem, would professional saddle makers STILL be using it? Don't you think they would have discovered centuries ago a problem like that?

[Michaelson]

I have used stuff like this over the past 40 years, and I HAVE had leather items eaten by bugs. I figure it all depends on your location.

My damage took place while I lived in the humidity of Florida. I tried both neatfoot oil AND olive oil. The bugs seemed to like both equally. I lost a flap holster, several knife cases, and 3 pairs of shoes. Like leather items stored in the same area that had NOT treated with the oil were not touched. Not one, single item. The olive oil and neatsfoot oil treated items were absolutely demolished.

Now, I did NOT have that problem when I lived in Ohio, or here in Tennessee, but have long since stopped using any vegetable or animal based leather product. Not sure if that was the reason the bugs quite eating my stuff, but I'm still a believer it had to so with the area I lived in and what drew the bugs to the oiled items.

Anyway, everyone has their own war stories. RaiderBash has not experienced the problems with insects. I have. Him being a professional in his field, I accept his word completely....but be aware there are other experiences that are counter to what he has seen and experienced, such as mine. Be cautious.

As I recommend, proceed at your own risk. It's your gear. Do some reading and see what works best for you.

Regards! Michaelson

[RaidersBash]

I have used stuff like this over the past 40 years, and I HAVE had leather items eaten by bugs. I figure it all depends on your location.

My damage took place while I lived in the humidity of Florida. I tried both neatfoot oil AND olive oil. The bugs seemed to like both equally. I lost a flap holster, several knife cases, and 3 pairs of shoes. Like leather items stored in the same area that had NOT treated with the oil were not touched. Not one, single item. The olive oil and neatsfoot oil treated items were absolutely demolished.

Now, I did NOT have that problem when I lived in Ohio, or here in Tennessee, but have long since stopped using any vegetable or animal based leather product. Not sure if that was the reason the bugs quite eating my stuff, but I'm still a believer it had to so with the area I lived in and what drew the bugs to the oiled items.

Anyway, everyone has their own war stories. RaiderBash has not experienced the problems with insects. I have. Him being a professional in his field, I accept his word completely....but be aware there are other experiences that are counter to what he has seen and experienced, such as mine. Be cautious.

As I recommend, proceed at your own risk. It's your gear. Do some reading and see what works best for you.

Regards! Michaelson

Well said Michaelson!

Most of my experience has been in So.Cal and Texas, and none of the items have been "stored." Saddles and other tack, holsters, etc, all get well used , and those items get "brushed" with nearly every use, cleaned on a regular basis and oiled on a similar schedule.

Also, I'm in NO WAY suggesting that Olive Oil is the end all be all of leather conditioning. There are other products I prefer (I like the Lexol Wipes for my saddles, etc), but I believe Olive Oil has it uses and certainly serves if 1) in a pinch, or 2) on a budget. And I've found with stubborn headstalls it softens leather faster than anything else I've seen.

Some of my horse stuff so people get that I'm not just talking out my butt. I gentle wild horses, and my horse is one that I've taken from wild to finished. People can check my facebook page for an intro to my training video, and in that clip i demonstrate how your horse should tie when the world is blowing up around him:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php? ... =682269116

me on patrol on my BLM Mustang that I gentled and used on the video



2 shots from a t.v. show (wildlife nannies), where i gentled a wild "Zorse", zebra/horse cross




me and my mustang again...

[Indiana Joyce]

I've never heard of a zebra horse hybrid. Neat. All I know is I tried Pecards, and wilsons leather conditioner, and neither brought back the suppleness. Now Im afraid to try anything, so I'm wrong either way.

[RaidersBash]

"Be not afraid" Use a sponge and apply. try a small spot on the sleeve or something and see if you like it...if you don't you certainly haven't ruined the jacket. and nothing is going to attack and eat your jacket as long as you're using it and wearing it on a regular basis...

other than maybe _, because the size of that dude, he might just could eat a jacket seasoned with olive oil

thanks for the compliment _ (hope you meant my horse...although the zorse is very pretty)

[lantzn]

I've been using it on saddles and tack for over 20 years. i've never had anything go "rancid." There is a HUGE difference between a full bottle of something to go bad in a cupboard, and a thin application.

An open bottle of wine will go bad. If i spill a glass on my hardwood floor and wipe it up...does my floor stink because of the wine that soaked into the wood?

If it was a problem, would professional saddle makers STILL be using it? Don't you think they would have discovered centuries ago a problem like that?

uh, I was kidding about the rancid/refrigeration comment. Heck I've used olive oil on wood furniture.
But I don't think I would use it on something so soak into like leather.

[lantzn]

"Be not afraid" Use a sponge and apply. try a small spot on the sleeve or something and see if you like it...if you don't you certainly haven't ruined the jacket. and nothing is going to attack and eat your jacket as long as you're using it and wearing it on a regular basis...

other than maybe _, because the size of that dude, he might just could eat a jacket seasoned with olive oil

thanks for the compliment _ (hope you meant my horse...although the zorse is very pretty)

You could treat the leather patch on the canvas bag your jacket came in. The leather I believe is the same, at least it looks like it on mine.

[Holt]

wow. I dig that picture of you and the horse relaxing together.

beautiful animal. I love those animals.

[RaidersBash]

Thanks Holt, _

He is a fantastic critter, and as close as a best friend as a fella could have. We've been on some real adventures together and he's always given me more than I could ever expect...really lots of heart and lots of "try." For him having been a wild horse, I'm always amazed at the relationship we have. That I can be out in pasture with him and a half dozen other horses, and that I can call him off his food from 60 feet and he'll come just to hang out with me, not because I have a treat for him (i've never used food rewards). I have a different training style than most, it's "natural horsemanship" (if anyone has heard of that), but from a biblical perspective. I'll leave it at that to not start any debates or anything.

So yeah, thanks again guys. He really is something special, but then again...they all are.