Club Obi Wan

I have two westeds, a snug miltary fit one and one thats more sa that i have weathered with penknife and sandpaper. The hide i note is quite soft and thin, has anyone done the shower on theirs, would you recommend it and if so how do you go about it ?

Many thanks.

I showered with my Wested lamb, and it worked GREAT. Just make sure the shower is just warm, not hot. Then you can scrunch it up as much or little as you want depending on how wrinkled you want it. Leave it for a bit, and then hang it to dry. Should work out great.

Turn on shower, don said Indy jacket, step in shower, wait, step out of shower, pat said Indy jacket down with towel, wear said Indy jacket till dry. (or hang/scrunch)


;-)

TR

That method works too. It all depends on how many wrinkles you want.

Well, it's more than wrinkles. Do you want to shrink it any? If so, then it's hot water and the drier afterwards. If you don't want shrinkage, then just use cool water. If you get it really wet, you can lay it on towel flat on the floor. I rolled it up in a ball and left it over night. The next day it was damp and I just left it out flat on a towel. It worked for me.

I showered with my Wested lamb, and it worked GREAT.

That didn't sound right. I had to laugh, but then I'm a pervert.

agent5 wrote:

I showered with my Wested lamb, and it worked GREAT.

That didn't sound right. I had to laugh, but then I'm a pervert.

I passed right over that the first time I read it!!! But, I get it now!

Thanks guys. I dont want to shrink it just scrunch it, so iguess ishould just use cold water then ? and for how long do you think, couple a mins, 5 mins ?

Thanks for the advice

I wanted to shrink mine, so I used hot water and got it soaked. Try just a little cold water on it and if you don't get the desired results, go back for more the next time.

I'd say 5 minutes is a bit long, bro. It ain't gonna take much to soak it, IMO, you don't want to over do it. Just step in and circle around till it's soaked, 30 count- 1 minute. You can always do more if you need to.

TR

I agree.... it won't take too long to get it soaked in the shower.

I did my old standard of cold wash and rinse on a ROLA special with no visible effect other than less shine and breaking in the leather some. I air dried the jacket because I wasn't looking to shrink it any.

Yea, the only way it would shrink after a cold water shower, is to toss it in the drier.

I don't expect you would see much shrinkage with warm water either as long as you air dried it.

Well, to be sure, only use cold water. But what an image.... running around with only a leather jacket on, in a cold shower!!! Yeeeooowww....

Thanks Mike, I just spit chewed up carrot all over my couch.

LOL.... Well, wait until someone posts a "how to" series of photos... you'll be chocking on that carrot! ;-)

Thanks for the help guys, i am toying with the idea of doing right now, i will take before and afters.

If i understand correctly, the temperature of the water must not be super hot or freezing cold.
I think the temperature of the water must be somewhere in the middle, the same temperature a glass of water would get if you leave in in a room for enough time, living-room temperature. Or the same temperature rainwater has in summertime.

(actually, this is more or less me asking for help or confirmation on this, since I've never done it myself)

Ok i have just got out of the shower ! Went in for 1min. To be fair to Peter i was surprised out how waterproof his jacket is even after i had the sandpaper and swiss army knife at it. I hated the jacket when i first got it but i am starting to like it a lot. I will now post before pics on the jacket thread and then after ones later today.

Thanks again

Try it with cold water first, then progress to gradually hotter if you need.

I've washed mine in the frontloader at 40° C with no shrinking. But beware NO promises! You do it at your own risk other people have noted shrinkage!!

Kt Templar...THIS is a frontloader....



I don't see how that is going to help with a leather jacket!

Try using one of these instead.

It's called a washing machine, and should be set to 100 degrees, not 40!

I was about to do some distressing this morning when I discovered my sump pump had stopped due the outlet under the deck being frozen solid. I had to roll and crawl around underneath to get to the darned thing and thought the process might be considered an "adventure" and that I should wear my new Wested lamb. I changed my mind and am glad I did. It was just too nasty under there. Got the pipe fixed though.

Now I read this post about distressing in the shower or washing machine and I realize that the whole idea of taking something this expensive and beating it up just plain scares me.

Can I really wash the entire thing, lining and all, and have it come out fine? If wetting it in the shower, do you actually have to wear it in the shower or can you just hang it under? Then crunch it in a ball and let dry overnight?

I would like to get thing more wrinkly so would sure like to see photos of shower and washing machine results.

lpa53 wrote: Now I read this post about distressing in the shower or washing machine and I realize that the whole idea of taking something this expensive and beating it up just plain scares me.

That's the drum I've been beating all these many years.

Why don't you just wear it and let nature take it's natural course? ;-)

Regards! Michaelson

Imahomer wrote:Yea, the only way it would shrink after a cold water shower, is to toss it in the drier.

Food for thought:

I had a Wested Lamb shrink while 'air drying' after getting soaked while hiking. Just after I summited Mt. Eisenhower, the skies opened up and the jacket was soaked. Blue skies one minute and hot (August in NH) and ten minutes later, BAM!Broke my MK VII bag on that trip too. Anyways, I wore the jacket during the descent and the sun came out again on the way down. By the time I got back to the Jeep, the jacket was only damp. Balled it up and threw it in the back for the 3 hour-ride home and wound up selling the jacket because it shrunk too much.

Moral of the story, it that any source of excessive heat can cause shrinkage, not just a clothes dryer. Something to think about if you are looking for that 'outdoor fresh scent of a line-hung jacket in August. The problem is that the definition of "excessive" is dependent on many things. I got caught about 10 times in downpours riding my motorcycle last year wearing my Schott Perfecto, and there was zero shrinkage after drying in the summer heat and wind. Same with my Vanson. I think lamb and calf are more prone to shrinkage as a generalization.

As far as cold water vs. hot water - hot water will penetrate the leather better. Some of these hard-core A-2 guys practically boil their jackets. Hot water more than likely removes the oils a lot more than cold water. After the jacket is completely dry, always treat with the conditioner of your choice. I think Michealson has mentioned a product once or twice that is touted to work rather well.

I say "do it" but do it slowly and monitor the process closely. The rewards are worth it if done right. Of course, I cannot count how many Indy jackets I have sold because they shrunk.

Ah, rick, we meet yet again in a 'weather or not to weather' thread.....
Regards! Michaelson

Yes, but this time mine was natural distressing!

Ask your daughters friend about his Perfecto if he hasn't already had it soaked. Amazing jacket.

It is now obvious to me that since the animals live outside and get wet, lamb and calf shrink easier. That is why they are smaller than cows and horses.

...and if the jacket weighs the same as a duck, it's made of wood.

BURN him....BURN him....



...and no, he hasn't, as it fit him perfectly right out of the box. Talk about lucky! ;-)

Regards! Michaelson

maboot38 wrote:Try using one of these instead.

It's called a washing machine, and should be set to 100 degrees, not 40!

Ah ha.... but with one of those where would you put the rocks??

Michaelson wrote:...and no, he hasn't, as it fit him perfectly right out of the box. Talk about lucky! ;-)

What I meant was that after a dozen rainstorms, it will STILL fit perfectly. Not nearly as succeptible to shrinking as lamb and calf.

Oh...I knew that....

Regards! Michaelson

Kt Templar wrote:

maboot38 wrote:Try using one of these instead.

It's called a washing machine, and should be set to 100 degrees, not 40!

Ah ha.... but with one of those where would you put the rocks??

No rocks please. I like mine neat.

Cute.

It was raining yesterday so I decided that natural rain water would be best for the jacket... We have "soft" water and I don't want any salt getting in my jacket. So, results... It didn't soak all the way through which is good I think, the results are that my jacket has a better less new look to it. My sleeves rode up a little because of the bunch up so my jacket fits a little better.

Gonna share some pics buddy ?

Redinight wrote:It was raining yesterday so I decided that natural rain water would be best for the jacket... We have "soft" water and I don't want any salt getting in my jacket. So, results... It didn't soak all the way through which is good I think, the results are that my jacket has a better less new look to it. My sleeves rode up a little because of the bunch up so my jacket fits a little better.

What type is the jacket?