aging a new MKVII Bag

mollet44 · Post by **mollet44** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 12:41 am

I am looking for a way to age my new bag.....any suggestions?

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 12:43 am

I'd say the way to age a bag is the same way as to age your work gloves, just wear it. Hope this helps

High Regards, Daryl.

Puppetboy · Post by **Puppetboy** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 12:48 pm

I have done a few bags with sandpaper, scratching with steel brushes, soaking, and scrubbing with comet/bleach. I will post a tutorial with photos soon on my website. I filled mine with dirt to let it dry (don't put it in the drier or in the sun!). The results were great. Hope this gets you started!

Post by **Ken** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 12:50 pm

Whenever I got a MKVII (they were always issued though) I put them in the washing machine in order to soften them up and it always worked beautifully though be advised this has led to disintigrations reportedly by some people in the past so proceed at own risk!

Ken

Post by **Ken** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:20 pm

ClintonHammond wrote:Why not in the dryer?

Yes I dry them afterwards too

Ken

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:30 pm

I had several mint unissued MK V bags shred in the dryer. I wouldn't do it with an antique MKVII for sure!

Hand wash, hang dry.

Puppetboy · Post by **Puppetboy** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:37 pm

I would avoid the dryer to minimize shrinking, especially on new canvas. Even air drying slowly, it will shrink a tiny amount, but not much.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:54 pm

I put a WPG in the washing machine once... it stipped colour in some really unnatural patterns. I hated the effect.

Have never done it on one of my real ones. Just lots of tender soakings in Napisan. The bag itself had been used enough to lok pretty good after that, anyway.

Beware of the washing machine.

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:42 am

I washed and dried my last bag, and it was one of those times I wish I could go back in time and stop myself! It shrunk, had a marbled look to it, and made the fabric very loose (not stiff).

With my second bag, I stored it on the dash of my car in the direct Texas sunlight and within a week I could already see a difference. Another week, and another on the other side turned it a lighter green like Indy's bag in Raiders. If you try this, make sure the strap is removed as the sun will alter that as well.

astroboy · Post by **astroboy** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:51 am

I concentrated on the leather strap as the bag is from 1936 anyway...
I also used the bag in a violent helicopter motion to give it to my naughty labrador when she got up to no good ! Works very well indeed...