When to first 'treat' a jacket with something

Dre · Post by **Dre** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 6:14 am

When is the best time to first treat a jacket with a leather product? and how often?

am i right in saying (from what i think i heard) that the jackets come already treated in a way anyway, and that you can/should wait a while before treating it with something? or should you always treat them as soon as you get them

Merrick · Post by **Merrick** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 7:10 am

2.5 years and I still haven't treated mine at all. I think I need to now, it's not quite as supple as it once was. Still softer than anything else I own, however.

Dre · Post by **Dre** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:33 am

ok cool...so you only really need to after a while

I can relax now! hehe.

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:41 am

Hey, that's some really great advice to give someone getting a new 250.00 jacket! NOT!!

If you want to keep it a long time, pecards it! You have absolutely nothing to lose!(except the soft, suppleness, and health of your leather!)

have a nice day.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:29 am

Normally I treat a lambskin right out of the box.

Goatskin and cowhide, I wait for a bit to allow the jacket to start setting to my body shape, unless it's to stiff. I then immediately apply Pecards jell to help that process. After that, I apply product at the start of the wearing season, and again before putting away for the summer.

Regards! Michaelson

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:43 pm

Your jacket is goat, right Dre? My Wested goat is 9 months old. I've never treated it, and don't plan on treatingit far a while. I agree with Pagey, I want to let my jacket "wear" for a while.

Dre · Post by **Dre** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:25 pm

yeah it's goat.

well i might be tempted to treat it now (although i am pretty sure they're already somewhat 'treated' when they're new) though i really dont know which product to use, which has been bothering me for a while.

i cant get pecards in australia and it costs about $100 to actually import it i think for some insane reason. so i badly need to find an alternative that i can get here =P

but im worried that if i choose the wrong product it might badly affect my jacket

Flattery · Post by **Flattery** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:47 pm

You could really go either way on this, as goatskin is pretty tough, and it'll hold up well in the elements.

If you don't treat it, based on my own experience, it'll still take quite a while to show any wear, save for loosening up. I haven't treated my goatskin jacket with anything (except acetone and sandpaper), and have worn it in the rain countless times, and I haven't noticed any effects other than what I know to be artificial. It still looks pretty good after being soaked a few times and after the acetone:

viewtopic.php?t=13246

But seriously, if you just can't bear to let anything happen to it, treat it with Pecards. Texas Raider is right -- you've nothing to lose by doing that, and it will certainly indemnify the integrity of the leather for longer.

Dre · Post by **Dre** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:53 pm

yeah...i figure it wont be falling apart or get damaged much even after a few years of no treating it...though id like to have it for a long long time.

so aside from pecards...what is a good option that i might find in australia? pecards is out of the question seeing as it'll cost waaay too much for me

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:36 am

Why the cost to Aussie? If you want, I'll order you some and send it. Just pay the cost(which should be FAR from a 100 dollars) and I'll do it for ya.

have a nice day-- you too Pagey, I wasn't slammin' you guys in any way. I'm hoping some of you guys are getting used to my forthrightness

. I'm never trying to insult anyone, if so, I'll let you know first! LOL

In this case, the doood WAS askin' for advice. The jacket will wear with or without conditioning, so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in this case. Might as well be safe and Pecards the thing. It protects the leather, so you have piece of mind to go about 'adventurely' distressing it.

have a ni-- oh, I said that already!

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:11 am

To add to what Tex said, the jacket won't need it when you first get it. I've noticed that with my Wested goat it took about 5 or 6 months and a few rains, before the jacket got to the point that it could use a treatment. Having said that and thinking about it, I might pick up some Pecards sometime soon.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:15 am

Excellent points on goatskin. Until the surface has been flexed enough to 'distress' the surface, or at least crack it, the natural tendency of the freshly made material is to resist absorbing any treatment. After being worn for a bit, it will be more open to any product used as the surface will have microscopic 'crack's, and the underlying leather will be ready to soak up anything you want to apply. Just make sure you apply the right product the first time, whether it be Pecards, Letap, what ever. Don't skimp on good product...you'll regret it if you do.

Regards Michaelson

Post by **Ken** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:03 pm

I think the deteriation of leather either requires a LOT of abuse and/or a LONG time though so no need to panic over treatign it right away. I mean you get vintage A2s that have been through wars and are still in totally good, wearable condition (and I am sure not all of them have been treated either).

Ken

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:21 pm

The only problem with old leather is in it drying out over time. It's not just protecting the leather with a product that does the trick, but replacing the lost moisture that use and time removes. I've seen some REALLY nice old A-2's that in appearance were beautiful, but if you flexed them in any way, they'd crack like glass. Dry as a bone, and almost beyond help even with proper application of Pecards or the like. If you make a regular plan of replacing the moisture twice a year (like I mentioned I do in my first post), or if the jacket has been used and 'abused', causing the leather to dry out, then your grand children should be fighting over who gets to wear the old jacket LONG after you're gone.

Regards! Michaelson

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:18 am

Shouldn't I have CHILDREN first before my GRANDCHILDREN start fighting over my jackets?

have a nice day.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:49 am

Peter Botwright told me himself that none of the jackets should ever need treating except in repeated exposures to extreme weather conditions, mostly extremely cold temps which causes the leather to crack. Perhaps he only meant this in regards to the lambskin, which is what I was buying, but I think he meant overall.

I've never treated any of my jackets and they all appear as supple as they day I got them.

I'm afraid I'd have to take his word on that since leather has been his business for years.

Mr. Das · Post by **Mr. Das** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 12:28 pm

I've had a goatskin for a year and wore it as my winter jacket. Never treated it and still looked just as new at the end of the year.

My lamb, I treat it at the first signs of distress. This is usually a couple months into constantly wearing it.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:40 am

Texas Raider wrote:Shouldn't I have CHILDREN first before my GRANDCHILDREN start fighting over my jackets?

have a nice day.

You could adopt!

Regards! Michaelson

Bjones · Post by **Bjones** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:05 pm

I treat my jackets 1-2 times a year. I make sure they have coating of conditioner before I start wearing them each year (pecard's, but used to be different brand) to not only replace lost moisture, but to help seal out water and dirt. A new jacket should not need immediate treatment, especially true with horsehide as I found out to my surprise.

Prof. Ed · Post by **Prof. Ed** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 8:48 am

Which particular Pecard's do you purchase for the goat skin?

Thanks,

Prof. Ed

VP · Post by VP » Sun Nov 20, 2005 10:55 am

viewtopic.php?t=7211
http://www.indygear.com/contacts/pecard.shtml