Club Obi Wan

Is it bad to wear a Wested lambtouch, or any high quality leather jacket for that matter, in the rain if it hasn't been treated yet?
I really want to wear my jacket tonight, but there's a slight chance of showers. I've yet to receive the Pecards I ordered, so it's still untreated. I'd really hate to accidently ruin my jacket .

-Fiddler

You can still wear it, but be sure to allow to totally dry at room temperature when you get home. Each time the leather gets wet and dries this way, the surface will become dryer and dryer, eventually causing the surface to start breaking down and distressing. It's not going to happen overnight, so go ahead and enjoy your jacket until your Pecards arrives. Your jacket is good to go for a good period of time (unless you plan to go swimming in the thing (grins)), but once your dressing arrives, be sure to give it a good going over. Regards. Michaelson

Sweet, thanks for the info Michaelson .

-Fiddler

But don't put it on a hanger to dry if it gets wet/damp! I made that mistake, it left dents (stretch marks) from the hanger in the shoulders. Fortunately, I dampened the leather again, stretched and kneeded it a little bit, and let it dry LAYING FLAT on a towel and it was OK.

This is important if you have the cotton lining!!! Don't wear a light colored shirt under your Wested in the rain! I did, and the dye in the lining bled out all over the shirt. Shame, too; it was one of my three Indy shirts Peter said it was a combination of the water and my body heat that caused it to react as it did. Just a heads up

...I always place my leather jackets on jacket/suit hangers that are made specifically NOT to leave dents or stretch marks in material. You can find them in any good clothing stores, or of all places, Lowes hardware stores in the general housing areas. The hanger is slightly curved, and distributes the weight of the jacket across and forward of the neckline, evenly distributing the material out and forward. Regards. Michaelson

Hmm. I'm slightly concerned about A.B.'s message on Wested lining dye bleeding. I recently ordered a Wested Raider with the combination cotton body/satin sleeve lining.

Has anyone else had a problem with lining dye bleed? Would all satin have been a better choice? The combo seemed to offer the best of both worlds -- easy sleeve entry but not shoulder slipping.

Regards,

Harry

....his was the only one I've EVER remember posting with this particular problem. It's not a problem you have to really worry about, unless you plan to spend your time in a lot of water and REALLY wet situations. Any material that is dyed has a level of 'concern' regarding the release of the dye if saturated with moisture. I had a Stetson bleed all over me one day when worn in a rainstorm. Some will, some won't. Like I said, it's not a problem I'd worry about, and if you apply a good coating of leather treatment, regardless of brand (I recommend Pecards myself, or Lexol), it's pretty much a non-problem. Regards. Michaelson

Thanks, Michaelson! Your response is both logical and comforting. Since I don't plan on swimming in my jacket -- unless absolutely necessary -- it shouldn't be a problem.

I am a fan of Pecard products, especially the jell which I acquired after your recommendation.

Do Wested wearers "pecard" (or treat with other fine leather products) their jackets immediately after receiving? Or, do you wait a few months?

I do know with my A2 jacket experience (goatskin) a new jacket's hide is so rich in oils that dressing won't be absorbed.

Best regards,
Harry

As usual, Michaelson's post pretty much covers it! I suppose you could turn the jacket inside out and give the lining a light spray of Scotchguard, or some such product. (Maybe we should leave that to guys who wear both a belt and suspenders! )

Bushman

Michaelson is right. Before my lining bled out I'd nver heard of it before, or since for that matter. I jusat wanted to add it, as it's quite a thing to be surprised by. My post is probably around here somewhere, with Peter's reply. I think I had called it "Does a dead animal still bleed?" or something. At that time I had thought it was the leather that had bled the dye.

Michaelson wrote:
...I always place my leather jackets on jacket/suit hangers that are made specifically NOT to leave dents or stretch marks in material.

I have a few wooden hangers from Nordstrom's that I keep all my leather jackets on. I was told to always hang your leather jacket(s) on wooden hangers. They are correct, right??? I have not yet worn my Wested Lambskin in the rain yet but when I do, the wooden hangers shouldn't ruin the shape of the jacket, right???

Indy N

The time has come for me, too, to give the ol' Wested it's first going over. Is it ok/recommended to use the Picards dressing that comes with the DM Bullwhip? I've been planning on doing that soon, but this post made me ask. Is all Picards dressing the same? If so, is it ok to use the whip dressing on the cowhide Wested? What's the best application/technique recommendations? Is it like waxing a car? Small circles, or is it better to rub it in in an up-and-down in a straight line motion? My previous Gear jacket was a (non-Wested) lamb skin and eventually the neck dried and cracked like Joan Rivers original face. I'd HATE for that to happen to my Raiders.

Gater,

You can use the standard Pecards, but some guys say it tends to add weight to the jackets. There's now a jell, or Motorcycle lotion out now for jackets. But at one time, standard Pecards was all we had, so it wouldn't hurt. If you find that the jacket is too tacky after your application, look through posts for Michaelson's hair dryer trick. It works great.

Mike

Thanks, I'll do that!