Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
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- bullit
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Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Hey Guys,
Can someone point me in the right direction if this topic has been discussed before. I have recently found what appears to be mold growth on my David Morgan Bullwhip, particularly on the wrist loop and also around the last few inches of throng and fall hitch. Have tried cleaning it off but it just returns. Can any one help please?
Cheers
Bullit
Can someone point me in the right direction if this topic has been discussed before. I have recently found what appears to be mold growth on my David Morgan Bullwhip, particularly on the wrist loop and also around the last few inches of throng and fall hitch. Have tried cleaning it off but it just returns. Can any one help please?
Cheers
Bullit
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
How old is the whip? Has it been exposed to moisture without being cleaned and treated? That's all I can think of for now.bullit wrote:Hey Guys,
Can someone point me in the right direction if this topic has been discussed before. I have recently found what appears to be mold growth on my David Morgan Bullwhip, particularly on the wrist loop and also around the last few inches of throng and fall hitch. Have tried cleaning it off but it just returns. Can any one help please?
Cheers
Bullit
Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Is it white? If so, it's what Morgan calls spew and is nothing to be concerned about. It has something to do with fat rising to the surface or sometihng like that. It's not mold and won't damage your whip. Just clean it off anytime it appears. If it's green and furry on the other hand...
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
My whips do that. I can't figure out how to avoid it.whiskyman wrote:Is it white? If so, it's what Morgan calls spew and is nothing to be concerned about. It has something to do with fat rising to the surface or sometihng like that. It's not mold and won't damage your whip. Just clean it off anytime it appears. If it's green and furry on the other hand...
If that is the case, just let it come out and clean it off when necessary. It shouldn't give you any problems.
Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Not really sure what leads it to happen, but I think it tends to affect whips in storage. Maybe temperature and humidity pay a part? I had an old Morgan that had it, but my own whip that doesn't really get any use doesn't get affected. Pretty mysterious..
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
I was told it has to do with the climate in my area. ALL my new whips do that as they break in, but after a few weeks they stop,whiskyman wrote:Not really sure what leads it to happen, but I think it tends to affect whips in storage. Maybe temperature and humidity pay a part? I had an old Morgan that had it, but my own whip that doesn't really get any use doesn't get affected. Pretty mysterious..
and never do it again.
- bullit
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies. The whip is around 5 years old. It has been exposed to moisture in the past but it was cleaned and retreated with leather conditioner. I've been in touch with David Morgan and discussed the issue via email. Was advised to allow the whip exposure to sunlight to destroy any possible mould, but they too think it is the natural fat content in the leather escaping the the surface "White Blume" was the phrase used. Either way I did what was suggested and will see what happens.
Bullit
Thanks for the replies. The whip is around 5 years old. It has been exposed to moisture in the past but it was cleaned and retreated with leather conditioner. I've been in touch with David Morgan and discussed the issue via email. Was advised to allow the whip exposure to sunlight to destroy any possible mould, but they too think it is the natural fat content in the leather escaping the the surface "White Blume" was the phrase used. Either way I did what was suggested and will see what happens.
Bullit
- Weston
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
I talked to a guy who rebuilds saddles, and he said that the best way to deal with white mold is to spray the leather with a mild bleach solution. 1/2 teaspoon bleach in a bottle of clean water. Spray it lightly, let it dry. If it's mold, that'll kill it. Just a thought.
Weston
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
"bleach solution" sounds a little extreme. Im certainly no expert but would that damage the patina of the whip?
- Weston
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
It's not as severe as it sounds. Just enough bleach to scent the water.
Weston
Weston
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
I'll bear that in mind, thanks Weston.
- RaidersBash
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
And then maybe some Dr. Jackson's Hide Rejuvenator from Tandy Leather. Best stuff I've ever used for all my leather stuff (including a lifetime of work with saddles and such)
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
For what's coming out of your whip, you don't need to worry.
Again, all my new whips do this. You can either clean it off, or if it doesn't bother you too much, you can let it wear off on it's
own.
Again, all my new whips do this. You can either clean it off, or if it doesn't bother you too much, you can let it wear off on it's
own.
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
From the sound of it, it’s probably leather spew/bloom. I’ve touched on this here in the past but sometimes leather, whips included will develop a white powdery coating on them (or just in select spots), it can look like heavy dust, snowflake patterns, or just develop between the plaiting and tends to happen if they have been in storage for a while or exposed to temperature change extremes. Like you might get from going from winter to spring. It‘s often and easily mistaken as mold or mildew, but it occurs when plaiting soaps and leather dressings work their way out of the leather over time. It typically has a slight waxy tallow feel, almost like a dry bar of soap (though not always) but the quickest way to tell is to spot test it by carefully and quickly holding a small flame near to the leather. Spew will melt back in to the leather almost instantly as soon as the heat touches it, Mold wont. Spew is harmless, looks worse then it is, but is easily whipped off and can be cleaned with a clean damp washcloth if needed.
Make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start doing any extreme treatments methods with bleach solution or commercial leather moldicides/fungicide. For future reference its best to store whips dry, in a dry spot preferably with natural lighting conditions and airflow. If you have to store them in a bag or dark closed off area for extended period of time, its not a bad idea to keep a silica gel bag with them to act as a desiccant and help control moisture and humidity.
Dan
Make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start doing any extreme treatments methods with bleach solution or commercial leather moldicides/fungicide. For future reference its best to store whips dry, in a dry spot preferably with natural lighting conditions and airflow. If you have to store them in a bag or dark closed off area for extended period of time, its not a bad idea to keep a silica gel bag with them to act as a desiccant and help control moisture and humidity.
Dan
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Thanks for all the information. Still doesn't explain why all my new whips do this almost instantly, ever since I've used plaitingBullWhipBorton wrote:From the sound of it, it’s probably leather spew/bloom. I’ve touched on this here in the past but sometimes leather, whips included will develop a white powdery coating on them (or just in select spots), it can look like heavy dust, snowflake patterns, or just develop between the plaiting and tends to happen if they have been in storage for a while or exposed to temperature change extremes. Like you might get from going from winter to spring. It‘s often and easily mistaken as mold or mildew, but it occurs when plaiting soaps and leather dressings work their way out of the leather over time. It typically has a slight waxy tallow feel, almost like a dry bar of soap (though not always) but the quickest way to tell is to spot test it by carefully and quickly holding a small flame near to the leather. Spew will melt back in to the leather almost instantly as soon as the heat touches it, Mold wont. Spew is harmless, looks worse then it is, but is easily whipped off and can be cleaned with a clean damp washcloth if needed.
Make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you start doing any extreme treatments methods with bleach solution or commercial leather moldicides/fungicide. For future reference its best to store whips dry, in a dry spot preferably with natural lighting conditions and airflow. If you have to store them in a bag or dark closed off area for extended period of time, its not a bad idea to keep a silica gel bag with them to act as a desiccant and help control moisture and humidity.
Dan
soap. Not a single one hasn't done it, and it's not like they are being exposed to extreme temperature changes or anything,
they've just all done this.
Even when I grease the bolsters, it "spews" , after it's absorbed, the next day it will have the stuff on it.
After it's stopped, they have never done it again, but it really is irritating!
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Not sure Riku, I can't say i've ever heard of other whip makers having that problem and nor do I recall ever getting a new whip in that condition. I’d suspect it's something your doing differently that’s causing it. Could it be the plaiting soap formula you are using? An ingredient your using? How you’re mixing and heating it? How much you’re applying? Since its happening every time for you, there must be some variable that is causing the plaiting soap mixture to separate out from the leather so quickly.
- Canuck Digger
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
This happens. It's never happened tome, but I suspect it may have a lot to do with climate at it seems to be a constant for Riku but not me... As far as the plaiting soap is concerned, most use more or less the same recipe with minute variations, so not sure that would account for it. Just wipe it off.
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
I use the exact formula Paul Nolan uses, and I've applied the same as him. I also have tried different methods, for instance LouieBullWhipBorton wrote:Not sure Riku, I can't say i've ever heard of other whip makers having that problem and nor do I recall ever getting a new whip in that condition. I’d suspect it's something your doing differently that’s causing it. Could it be the plaiting soap formula you are using? An ingredient your using? How you’re mixing and heating it? How much you’re applying? Since its happening every time for you, there must be some variable that is causing the plaiting soap mixture to separate out from the leather so quickly.
Fox just greases about 1 ft. of strand at a time, so I tried that. The soap didn't even have enough time to penetrate the leather
by the time I got ready to grease it again, and I wiped off the soap that seeped out from tight plaiting. It still did it!
BTW, I found out recently that Joe strain uses 4 times as much water in his recipe than myself! Other than that, he uses about
the same amount of the other ingredients. But again, I use the same recipe that Paul Nolan uses, and he doesn't have the
problem.
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
Ok, yeah I know Paul hasn’t had that problem. Since your pretty much doing the same thing he is, what exactly is the climate like in your area? I suspect it’s more a curiosity then actual problem to be concerned with but there must be some x-factor in the mix that’s causing it to happen with such consistency.
- riku1914
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Re: Mold Growth on Bullwhip.
It's texas weather, never quite the same. I started making whips last summer, out hottest summer ever. Then through the winter,BullWhipBorton wrote:Ok, yeah I know Paul hasn’t had that problem. Since your pretty much doing the same thing he is, what exactly is the climate like in your area? I suspect it’s more a curiosity then actual problem to be concerned with but there must be some x-factor in the mix that’s causing it to happen with such consistency.
quite a mild winter but cooler temps obviously, and it still did it. Now it's getting hot again and it still does it.
Typically it's fairly warm and very humid in the summer, but the humidity tends to be a constant. I've thought that may be something about it, because it really is extremely humid here.