A few jacket washing questions

[jculpep3]

Last night I gave my special offer ROLA lambskin its first wash with warm water for about 3 min. I wore it around the house all evening with the sleeves pushed up while my wife made fun of me.

It still has the shine to the leather, and generally does not look as cool as some of the before/after pics I've seen on here in regards to washing jackets. So, my questions:

--Are the special offers similar enough to the customs that washing will work the same, or comparably?

--I wanted the jacket to shrink a little so I used warm water, but not hot. Good idea or bad idea?

--This is a little unrelated, but I was thinking about a possible 2nd. jacket and wondered if anyone has tried to order one with a custom waist measurement from Peter. Like if I wanted a 40 in the shoulders and a 34 in the waist--would that mess up the geometry of the jacket? Has anyone tried it?

Thanks!

[Gorak]

I'm only a very satisfied customer so I'm no Wested expert but if you want my take on it......the only difference is really the sizing, I believe. Both styles will react the same given the same hides with the same treatment.
Stick to it. I did the cold water wash in the machine and wore it daily and almost nightly for 3 days straight and I am so very happy with the results. I think it shrunk very slight but more so "conformed" to my body...if that makes any sense.
I too was wondering about more precice conversions to the customs as I have been making notes about tweaking my measurements for another Wested.
OKAY- I now give permission for anyone who is an official COW member to shoot me if I try to get another Indiana Jones jacket......just please aim for my left arm.......for screen accuracy you understand.

[jculpep3]

It does make sense. Mine did too, which is nice, and I have a few good-looking wrinkles along the pockets and the sleeves. Leather still looks like new, though...

[Texan Scott]

I think you illustrate an important point about these jackets, and leather in general, jculpep3.

Most of us would like to be able to pull a perfectly distressed Indy jacket right out of the box on the day it arrives, but for the most part, it is not possible. Just like a new pair of leather gloves when you put them on, they are somewhat stiff, not broken in, and are just too "new-ish" looking. With time and some work, though, you will get that just right adventure vibe that you have always been looking for. It's fun, but a process that doesn't quite happen tomorrow. Even a jacket that has been washed will still need to be broken in and used some for that just right look that conforms to you and no one else. With a few adventures, rough and tumble, etc., it will begin to develop some new character marks that help to tell a story that is uniquely yours, whether it be hiking through razer grass in the Amazon or the many misadventures of navigating a concrete jungle. Half the fun is getting there, I believe.

[Kt Templar]

I've machine washed a couple of Westeds with good results (my washed goat has been machine washed 3 times and is still around).



But have also found that just a thorough wetting down and drying with it on will also give good results.

This is a naked cowhide after a cold dowsing with a hose and a couple of hours drying.



Of course I then went medieval on it…

[jculpep3]

Thanks for the advice, folks! I haven't heard about using the washing machine. I'm hesitant since mine is the special offer and probably not as well-made as one of the customs--I might try it on the gentle cycle?

But I'll wear it a while as-is after its initial shower. It does seem to fit much better. Really I'm being greedy with the distressing--I've had the jacket for four years and in that time it's been on the Appalachian trail, done some mission work in Juarez, been hiked, horse-bit, rained on, etc. The natural distressing is working, just not fast enough for me!

[Tennessee Smith]

Water is a tried and true method of getting leather garments to form to your body for a very desirable second-skin sizing result. Soldiers have been fling that to break-in combat boots. They'd soak them in boiling water and then west them dry. The result; perfect fit, not blisters, no squeaks...

Regards,

-P

I've heard of soaking a pair of boots in water but I've never heard of a pair of combat boots being soaked in boiling water my friend. I'm not saying it's not done, I'm just saying I've never encountered in while I was in the military. I will also say that the myth of no blisters is just that a myth.

It was my second week in boot camp and our assistant Drill instructor told us that we can soak our boots to get a better fit. For those of us that had "issues" with the fit of the issued pair we proceeded one Sunday to soak our boots, double up on socks and wear them until they dried. It was a miserable couple of days.

After the third day our feet were covered in blisters. Mine were on the top of my feet at the crease above the toes and I had them around my heel. I remember this because of the pain that radiated all over the lower half of my body. Not pleasant considering all we did was march everywhere.

It was only after that assistant came in with some sort of white cream for our feet did we get better. He knew what he was doing.

That said, yes, they were formed to our feet and fit great but the process of getting there was miserable. Any military guy that tells you otherwise is lying in hopes you try it.

As far as anyone boiling them that may have worked on earlier made boots but the ones made by the lowest bidder in '96 and after won’t last. The soles would bend out of shape in a New York minute.




...but for a jacket, do it. I've done it to all of mine and they've aged/form fitted great.

Now for boots... if you do it, get some band aids.