Club Obi Wan

My Aldens are fairly new so they still feel sort of stiff. To help break them in faster, would any one recommend using Lexol leather conditioner? It is the only conditioner that I have.

I used neatsfoot oil on mine which made them darker and more supple.

I suggest this stuff called Pecards, great for leather, and it is also pretty natural as well. It also depends on where you live, what type of climate it is. Humid, dry, cold environment?? Pecards can be used in all those environments. I have to look at my Pecards card they gave me, why not to use neatsfoot oil on leather product, but other people have used them on their Aldens. Your choice ultimately, maybe others can chime in as well.

IndianaChris

Definitely use Pecards leather conditioner. That stuff is perfect. My Alden's LOVE it!

Go here:

http://www.pecard.com/

And order a big tub of it. You'll be glad you did and everything leather you own will thank you.

Thanks for the tip but, which one do I get. The leather care lotion or the leather dressing?Which do you use?

I always keep a tub of the dressing in the house, but here is a better explanation of the differences:

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7211

As maboot just said, stick with the dressing, that is what I have, its the classic dressing. Works great, you can use it not just on your boots, but on your whip, on your other leather shoes, it works great. The lotion is really for thin leathers, I bought some for some of our leather couches and the like. I need to put some lotion on a Wested I bought a long time ago, the leather is all stiff, and rough, hopefully the pecards lotion will do the trick. I got the 16oz tub of Pecards and I still have quite a lot left even after two years. It doesn't go bad or anything. You may want to get a nice horsehair shoe brush for buffing as well, there not expensive. I got mine for like $4-6 at a nice shoe shop.

IndianaChris

This helps a lot, thanks.

Bdgsi11 wrote:My Aldens are fairly new so they still feel sort of stiff. To help break them in faster, would any one recommend using Lexol leather conditioner? It is the only conditioner that I have.

I have a pair of Aldens I bought last summer. Same thing for me the boots were very stiff. I thought of getting pecards to soften them up. But I noticed the more I wore my boots the softer and less stiff they became. So IMO I don't think they need any pecards or leather shoe cream or oil. Mine fit like a glove now! I'm not against shoe conditioner just think they need some time on your feet.

Indyzane wrote:I'm not against shoe conditioner just think they need some time on your feet.

zane has a point here though. Pecards is good for what ails ya, but it's no match for time and mileage!

Agreed, but I HIGHLY recommend an occasionally application of Pecards to the areas of the boot that flexes a lot...specifically across the toes and around the heel area.

Pecards (or like product) lubricates the leather fibers that are exposed due to the constant flexing of the leather, and that lubrication allows the fibers to pass by each other smoothly. Untreated flexed leather eventually cracks.

Just a suggestion.

Lexall is also a fine product. We used to use that all the time before Pecards came into the hobby. It's water soluable, though, so it's a great cleaner/conditioner for smooth leathers, it's not all that great as a shoe/boot product. At least that's been my experience with it to date.

Oh, and neatsfoot oil, being an animal byproduct, attracts bugs in warm/humid climates. Proceed with caution.

Here's a good definition I found on a horse tack care page today:

Neatsfoot Oil: Neatsfoot oil is a powerful ingredient typically made from lard. Though it is an effective lubricant, it is known to darken leather, so should not be used if you want to preserve a light-colored saddle's original shade. Pure neatsfoot oil is typically recommended over neatsfoot oil compound, which has added ingredients such as mineral oil. The mineral oil can deteriorate the stitching in tack over time. The name "neatsfoot" comes from "neat," an old term for cattle, as the oil can be made from the bovine legs and feet.

MMmmmm....yummy!
Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Agreed, but I HIGHLY recommend an occasionally application of Pecards to the areas of the boot that flexes a lot...specifically across the toes and around the heel area.

Pecards (or like product) lubricates the leather fibers that are exposed due to the constant flexing of the leather, and that lubrication allows the fibers to pass by each other smoothly. Untreated flexed leather eventually cracks.

Just a suggestion.

Lexall is also a fine product. We used to use that all the time before Pecards came into the hobby. It's water soluable, though, so it's a great cleaner/conditioner for smooth leathers, it's not all that great as a shoe/boot product. At least that's been my experience with it to date.

Oh, and neatsfoot oil, being an animal byproduct, attracts bugs in warm/humid climates. Proceed with caution.

Here's a good definition I found on a horse tack care page today:

Neatsfoot Oil: Neatsfoot oil is a powerful ingredient typically made from lard. Though it is an effective lubricant, it is known to darken leather, so should not be used if you want to preserve a light-colored saddle's original shade. Pure neatsfoot oil is typically recommended over neatsfoot oil compound, which has added ingredients such as mineral oil. The mineral oil can deteriorate the stitching in tack over time. The name "neatsfoot" comes from "neat," an old term for cattle, as the oil can be made from the bovine legs and feet.

MMmmmm....yummy!
Regards! Michaelson

Yeah, it does sound funky but in the end your putting an animal product on an animal product. So it is what it is.
I've used it for some 20 years and no problems with the stiching. I started using neatsfoot oil because I use to buy boots from sears which were very comfortable and cheap but the had a bright orange tan look to them which I could not stand. The neatsfoot oil worked great to darken them up fast. I've been using on boots like that since. With that said, were talking only one application at the boots purchase to darken them and none after that. So I don't know if there are any problems with repeated applications in regards to the stiching from the oil. I just never had any.

Oh,I know....I used it in Ohio, and had no problems what so ever!

I used it in Florida, and bugs just LOVED it.

It just all depends on where you live and what the conditions are.

All you can do is try and find that happy medium.

There are several products out there that seem to fit the bill....and without finding you've only put salad dressing on your gear for critters to feast on!

Regard! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Oh,I know....I used it in Ohio, and had no problems what so ever!

I used it in Florida, and bugs just LOVED it.

It just all depends on where you live and what the conditions are.

All you can do is try and find that happy medium.

There are several products out there that seem to fit the bill....and without finding you've only put salad dressing on your gear for critters to feast on!

Regard! Michaelson

I go to Florida several times a year but I've never worn the boots there. That should be interesting Maybe I'll treat it with a top layer of pecards as I use that as well.
What do you think of beeswax as a topcoat?

Oh, don't worry about your boots if you're there on a visit. It takes a while for citters to find your leather gear and start dining. Like I said, I LIVED there for 3 yers, and that's what I experienced.

If you check Pecard's standard dressing ingredients, it contains beeswax. The 'creme' does too, but does not contain as much....so beeswax is good stuff. Nothing seems drawn to it as a 'food' source in the animal world that I've seen or read.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Oh, don't worry about your boots if you're there on a visit. It takes a while for citters to find your leather gear and start dining. Like I said, I LIVED there for 3 yers, and that's what I experienced.

If you check Pecard's standard dressing ingredients, it contains beeswax. The 'creme' does too, but does not contain as much....so beeswax is good stuff. Nothing seems drawn to it as a 'food' source in the animal world that I've seen or read.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks for the info!! I will give them a top coat of beeswax then!

Digger4Glory wrote:Yeah, it does sound funky but in the end your putting an animal product on an animal product. So it is what it is.

Except that you are putting an animal product that can be food for insects (and God knows what) onto an animal product that has been tanned to prevent decomposition and infestation. It's kind of like putting a fence around your garden so the rabbits don't get in and then leaving the gate open and a trail of carrots leading into it.

I'm currently breaking in a pair of LL Bean Katahdin Iron Works Engineers' Boots and am thinking of using Pecard's not for softening the leather but for waterproofing. Will this suffice or should I look into some Sno-Seal?

If you're looking for water 'PROOFING', Sno-Seal would be the way to go.

Pecards makes them water resistant, but not 'proof'.

Regards! Michaelson

^ Excellent point. Thank you for emphasizing the distinction.

Personally, I like this stuff, especially since it's from Alden:

It's the same as the Melatonian (sp?) neutral shoe cream. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it WAS the same stuff, as Aldens used to send a free jar of Melatonian neutral shoe cream with every pair of boots 'back in the day'. Good stuff too!

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson was saying Sno Seal is the best stuff for waterproofing, and I totally agree.

Before the relative affordability of Gore-Tex, I used Sno Seal on my duty boots. I'd use a hair dryer to warm the boots up first, then apply the Sno Seal, which really sank into the warm leather. Let 'em dry overnight, and you're good to go!

I picked up a 2 pack of a "microfiber application pad" at the dollar store the other day for..wait for it....a dollar! It's the kind of thing you'd use to put wax on your automobile. These things are perfect for applying Pecard's to your jacket, shoes, whip, whatever.