Relaxing new Wested for better drape

RichardSK · Post by **RichardSK** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:17 am

http://i6http://i68.photobucket.com/alb ... CF0736.jpg
These are photos of my new Wested the day after it arrived. I soaked it in cold water until fully saturated. When removing it from the water be careful as the lining bleeds heavily. I then wore for about a half hour to get wrinkles in the sleeves and the back panel. I then turned it inside out and hung it in the backyard (in southern California the weather is sunny and eighty degrees). After a few hours I turned it right-side out and left it for another hour or so with my glves in the pockets to bag them out a bit. I finally tossed it unzipped into the dryer on air only for another hour. The water does not hurt the lambskin and the jacket is now softer and drapes more readily. P.S. I threw in a pic of a good luck charn that I made a while back. When my Wested trousers get back from the tailor today I will post pics with the shirt under Gear.

RichardSK · Post by **RichardSK** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:22 am

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/r ... CF0736.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/r ... CF0737.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/r ... 000007.jpg

Indiana · Post by **Indiana** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:19 pm

Ya know, these jackets are not made to be soaked in water. The only leather that can be soaked, saturated, chucked in a washing machine, etc... is brain tan leather and these jackets are definatly NOT braintan!

Looks like it came out fine though. I'd be sure to put a coat on pecards or something similar on it once it is COMPLETELY dried out. You wouldn't want to trap water in with the leather.

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:45 pm

I,ve done the same thing basically to a lambskin Raiders jacket that I had a couple years ago, only I dunked mine into a sink full of water. I never regretted doing it, took away that really new look basically. I'd use only cold water 'cause the lining could possible shrink slightly if it was hot. Try only at your own risk though.

Doug C

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:17 pm

Yea, I'd be very careful soaking a jacket. It possible for it to shrink as it dries.

What type of leather is that Richard?

RichardSK · Post by **RichardSK** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:13 pm

My jacket is lambskin and it suffered no ill effects by my complete soaking. I used cold water and left it to hang dry inside out as the lining retains most of the water and needs to dry first. The lining bleeds like #### so caution is advised to not drip on things. I used a suit hanger that has a wider form and also pinned the inner pocket shut so it would not be baggy. After the lining was dry, I turned it rightside out and finished the drying. Living in southern California, the day I did it was about 80 with low humidity and a bit of a breeze. I can't recommend this technique highly enough. It lost the fake looking sheen, softened the leather and fits beautifully - no shrinkage at all. I also stuffed the pockets for a bit of the saggy bulge and roughed up the collar and other areas with a sponge scrub pad from the kitchen. I'll post some better photos in the next day or so. If Indy can fall in a river and come out alright then what the ####. If you want a new jacket, get something else. This one needs character.

RichardSK · Post by **RichardSK** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:42 pm

Here are the photos of the jacket that survived.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/r ... CF0769.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i10/r ... CF0770.jpg

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:13 pm

Looks great, I like it!

Doug C

zeus36 · Post by **zeus36** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:30 pm

I wore mine in a warm shower to get the newness out and break in the sleeves. I also wanted to get rid of any surplus dye down the drain and not on my clothes in case I wore the jacket in the rain.

Had no problems.