Club Obi Wan

I appreciate it's a bit 'how long is a piece of string'. However how long, roughly, will it take for a Wested goat to mould and crease? Esentially stop being stiff and new? I wear mine as much as I can but can't wear it at work all day . I dont want to soak it as I don't want it to shrink etc. However I an an impatient child

I still need to get time to learn how to post pictures. I do feel a bit 'dissapointed' in my jacket. But I may have had unrealistic expectations. I figure when it looks more worn it will help.....

Thanks. Raider

Edited for some spelling, swine prefunctory next

A couple tricks is to wad it up in a ball and sit on the jacket when you're watching tv. Some even sleep in theirs a couple nights. They will give in.

I've found that an application of Pecards leather 'creme' (jell) actually loosens up goatskin nicely too.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks, I've slept in it once. My partner thinks I'm 'strange'

That's not the first time we've read that report.

Regards! Michaelson

Just wear it in a warm shower for a minute or two then wear it till it's nearly dry. Won't take long and it won't shrink. If anything it will even loosen up a bit. A few days later put some conditioner on it. Will be be a much different jacket at that point. If you don't like the shower wait till its raining.

Raider S wrote:Just wear it in a warm shower for a minute or two then wear it till it's nearly dry. Won't take long and it won't shrink. If anything it will even loosen up a bit. A few days later put some conditioner on it. Will be be a much different jacket at that point. If you don't like the shower wait till its raining.

Thanks, I don't have Pecards but I do have a can of the Wested leather fare product. Would that be ok of should ibreally wait to get some Pecards from the states? I'm just really worried about 'messing it up' eithe by shrinking or some other method. What do you think? Has anyone usedthe Wested stuff?

Thanks

Raider

If you just want some wrinkles, but are worried about it shrinking, then use cold water. What I do is completelt wet down the jacket, then wear it with the sleeves pushed up as high as they'll go. While I'm walking around, I will scrunch up the pockets, the chest, the stormflap & zipper, etc. When I get tired of wearing a wet jacket, I accordion the sleeves up into the armpit, wad it up in a ball & throw it in a corner. A few times & it begins to look aged, wrinkled & beat on, but it really isnt -- there's actually no harm done to the jacket. You could also tumble it in the dryer with some dryer balls & no heat, but that may cause some wear & tear...

~Jace

It won't shrink if you don't use hot water and wear it dry. Putting a jacket in a dryer has many risks and its really easy to rip a lining or catch a pocket. Just use some warm water in that shower - get it wet but no ned to soak it to the bone - and it will come out nice and soft and start molding to you. While you wear it push up the sleeves, shape the collar, etc. You probably don't even need the conditioner until next jacket season. Don't worry, I do this with everything from a $200 jacket to an $800 one.

True, there is some risk of damage in using the dryer, but you can minimize it by putting the jacket in there zipped up -- at least it will protect the liner. But still attempt the dryer method at your own risk. Raider S has it right as there is no risk involved in only using water...

~Jace

thanks, your all very kind. Now I know this is going to sound stupid, but I'll ask anway. How wet is 'a bit'? Obviously soaked is just that. I've heard the dye from the lining tends to run. Is this true?

The dye shouldn't run or else all your shirts would be ruined whenever you sweat in your jacket. If any dye would come out it would be from the leather but that would happen if you soaked it in hot water and even then you might only see a little tint in the water.

So just get in the shower till you feel the jacket start to get soaked. If it's goat it will take a minute for that water to get into it. I think you'll know when it's wet - it will feel a bit heavier and the leather will seem very soft. Zip it all the way up and turn in the shower, get the back, under the arms, under the collar, etc. It will take a minute or two.

You'll be fine, mine have gone multiple times in the shower.

In my opinion, "wet a bit" is either holding under the sink faucet or the shower head for 5-10 minutes, or until it looks like it's damp, i.e., the water isn't just running off the leather. Yes, the dye will run if you completely soak it. When I've put jackets in the washer, I can see that the water turns a dark reddish-brown. But that also works in your favor -- then the jacket probably won't run when you getcaught in the rain...

~Jace

If you are worried about oversaturating your jacket, you could just take a spray bottle and spritz it wet then wear it until it dries. Keep the process going until you get the results you want. It should not take too long. Water is definitly the best thing help a leather jacket loosen up and fit better.

If you live in an area that has chlorinated and or fluorinated water, how would those effect the leather after a 'shower'?
I've been places that the tap water has a fairly strong chlorine odour

RCSignals wrote:If you live in an area that has chlorinated and or fluorinated water, how would those effect the leather after a 'shower'?
I've been places that the tap water has a fairly strong chlorine odour

Good question. Anyone?

Raider

I really would not worry about that. The very air a jacket will be exposed in daily will prove more harmful than any city water supply. Besides, when you get your clothes wet or even wash them, do you worry about flourine (which would only be added in tiny amounts) or chorine stains? If you were swimming in a city pool with the jacket just maybe you'd consider that.

You shouldn't be afraid of this, it's not going to hurt your jacket.

I don't worry about it with clothes, but with a natural material like leather it could be a different story, or not.