Club Obi Wan

I always enjoy reading your posts Tund!

it's like going to the movies. you know your in for a good time!

I know what you mean Holt! I love/hate all of Michael's posts. I love them because they are always informative and insightful. I hate them because I look at my nearly 2500 posts and say, "Exactly what is your contribution here Mr. Hollowpond?"

Great post as usual Michael!

Doesn`t TundraRaider look so cool in his gear even just doing the demo distress poses?

Thanks, Tundrarider, for taking the time to write and post this. It's extremely helpful.

Thanks for the tip Michael


I got my lamb in a pillowcase. I know it's not as tough as goat but I figure it couldn't hurt.


-TS

Michael, thank you for such a fascinating and informative post! As a fellow G&B Expedition in goatskin also living in Southern California, I'll definitely be coming back to this one again and again.

The "wear it", "sleep in it", and "sleep with it" have been big ones for me. The sleeping techniques I usually save for traveling--I've worn mine or used it as a pillow for flights back to the Midwest, a long journey into the heart of Mexico, and even for 20+ hours of flying to and from Israel. I've got one other Indy jacket (the Wings Hero in Italian cowhide), but that was after two and a half years of wearing just the Expedition (and I still wear it the most out of the two).

I'll definitely have to try the Lexol and water treatments some time--thank you for the suggestions! One suggestion I might add similar to the pillow usage and scrunch technique is wadding up the jacket and throwing it in the corner. Ever since I got my Expedition, I store it by balling it up and tossing it onto the floor of the closet. That's really helped loosen it up over time. I even used to ball it up and drop it on the cement next to me when studying outside. It's worked quite well!

Once again, thank you for sharing such a fascinating post--look forward to seeing your Expedition's development over time!

Best wishes,
Luke

Gorak wrote:Doesn`t TundraRaider look so cool in his gear even just doing the demo distress poses?

Absolutely. And he even does it in the proper clothing. I don't think this man knows the meaning of the term half...uh, baked.

So far I've been lightly misting my USW goat with distilled water (I'm looking into importing a liter of morning dew from South America ), balling it up, and wearing it as much as possible. (I imagine my wife's reaction to my wearing it to bed will be a weary, "What now?") This morning was nice because it was actually misty, and I got to wear the jacket in public for the first time. I've ordered a jug of Lexol but I won't be able to get serious until after this weekend (Wasteland Weekend). For authenticity, I suppose I could take it with me and roll around in the desert sand...

This immediately made me put on my Expedition goat. The Lexol thing is interesting as I have never used that leather conditioner. I'll have to give it a try.

Tennessee Smith wrote:Thanks for the tip Michael


I got my lamb in a pillowcase. I know it's not as tough as goat but I figure it couldn't hurt.


-TS

Let the poor thing go...

Hollowpond wrote:

Tennessee Smith wrote:Thanks for the tip Michael


I got my lamb in a pillowcase. I know it's not as tough as goat but I figure it couldn't hurt.


-TS

Let the poor thing go...

Took me a moment...

,
NS

Thanks for the tips, it's very helpful for someone new. I'll get my jacket soon and I'll be sure to use some of your technique!

Have already used some of these on my recent Magnoli Doctor Who/U-Boat Commander goatskin jacket.

Helpful tips, thanks for sharing, very much appreciated!

I got my Lexol the other day and even though I'm getting ready for another event, I couldn't wait to apply it. I really like the results. This morning I slept in the jacket for the first time.

The first thing I did when I woke up was check Facebook to be sure my wife didn't post pictures of me. (She didn't.)

I remember Sergei telling me to sleep in my Expo years ago! I thought it was the craziest thing I ever heard (until I tried it). That goat is tough as nails and this was one step (along with all your others) that actually worked)! Your jacket looks great by the way! G & B makes a product you can leave to your children (and their children)!

Regards, Dr. J

It was Dave Marshall who told Sergei to sleep in his jacket, so it goes WAY back.

Regards! Michaelson

The sleeping trick also works too for unwashed denim jackets.

TheExit148 wrote:The sleeping trick also works too for unwashed denim jackets.

Doesn't the dye bleed? I'd definitely wash it before you bedazzle it and put that Bon Jovi portrait across the back.

Wonderful insights, instructions and opinions, Michael
I'm just sorry I didn't see this before now!

Like everyone here, I always enjoy reading (and RE-reading if I'm being honest) your posts... and when I see that you've made one that includes photos, I'm always one happy camper!

I think the "lower back scrunch" just shot to the top of my Favorite Phrases List (probably stay there for the whole weekend!)...
VERY cool

Thanks -as always- for sharing so much of your own experience and experiments with us... We ALL benefit from it!

Dang Michael, I thought it said Natur-Fecal Distressing. How do I get this smell out of my jacket?

Otherwise some great info here.


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Well, I tried the pillow case trick with my x-1 jacket (I've tried sleeping in it, but I can't make it through an entire night) and it worked pretty dag on good. I had already broken it in pretty well, but this trick really softened up the leather. Thanks Michael!

Its already had the dryer treatment. Washed and then alternating wearing/dryer no heat with about 6 or 7 towels. Follow that with some Lexol and it does a GREAT job of relaxing that stiff comp weight cowhide!!!

Travis
ps. All the mods are awesome, especially that Tennessee Smith guy...

Tundy,

Your 'natural' distressing techniques have provided insight into just how to hasten the break-in process, on one of the toughest jackets out there, and I can tell that your methods are paying off, with the extra character your jacket is developing. As with the hat, the method of simply wearing the jacket will allow it to conform to you, as to how it can best fit you. Certainly, trends and 'flavors of the month' will come and go, but the G&B Expedition remains the same, and I am pleased about it.

Now for another distressing technique that you've not mentioned yet....start your Tundra...!

You wife is gonna get jealous, Tundy! It's a time share thing. There is jacket love, then there's jacket LUV...

I've tried the jacket in the vehicle idea before and it works. Thing is, lamb is such an easy skin to break in, as well.

Hollowpond wrote: ps. All the mods are awesome, especially that Tennessee Smith guy...

I know there is a knife in there, somewhere

Leather Therapy has some intriguing products and an informative video about machine washing: http://www.leathertherapy.com/categorie ... -Products/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Question: Would the Tundra Treatment apply to lambskin as well, or would another conditioner be more appropriate?

Lexol works best for tight pored hides such as lambskin and goatskin, so it's still the best for that particular application.

Regards! Michaelson

I know this is an older thread but I just wanted to thank Tundraraider for the great tutorial. I don't have an Expedition (I hope too someday after I've slimmed down a bit) but I did recently pick up a US Wings Signature Indy in Goatskin and the tips here proved just as useful on that jacket as well. I definitely didn't want it to shrink from too much water treatment but I did want to lose the shine, bring out the grain and make it look lived in and every thing you posted has done the trick.

Thanks

- bish

Since everyone seems to want to refer to this thread, I've made it a 'sticky' so it can be easily found.
Though 'we' usually lock tutorials, we'll leave this one open for pertinent questions.

Please don't flood with thread with chaff like 'Looks good!', but leave it for folks with questions. It's a good 'tutorial'.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks again for the write-up, im doing this on my second Legend. Here is my question. Is there any benefit to Lexol after Pecard's creme dressing? I already did a Pecard's treatment on it and its helping. But I am going for a "speed break in" because it needs to look as good as my other Legend for Disney this year. Curious if you have any other tips or ideas in ref to this thread.

Thanks!

Considering Lexol is a water based treatment and Pecards is a bees wax base, there would not be any benefit to using both.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks for the nod, Michael. I appreciate that.

Agreed....pick 'either/or'. You could end up with a mottled finish if you try and use both.

The Lexol will go in deeper for tight pored hides like lambskin and goatskin, but cowhide likes Pecards....especially when medium heat from a hair dryer is applied to liquify the Pecards, driving it deeper into the underlaying fibers of the leather. The results actually last longer than just surface application.

Regards! Michaelson

It's got a good beat and you can dance to it.

I give it an 8....

Hey Tundrarider, how about some pics of the jacket itself, to see how the leather looks now?

yes, pics please!!

Nevada Jones wrote:Hey Tundrarider, how about some pics of the jacket itself, to see how the leather looks now?

Wow! That jacket looks terrific. Thanks for those great, great pictures.

Yeah, she's looking good! Thanks for posting the pics. When I bought mine several years ago no one on COW could really give me good tips on how to age the Expo in goat specifically. Mine still looks shiny and plastic! I'm going to give your tips a try...

Tundrarider wrote:You are most welcome, Mark! I was curious about what I wrote previously regarding "Lexol vs Pecards" for Goatskin in the original post. Here it is:

Tundrarider wrote:LEXOL TREATMENTS. Michaelson has always been a strong supporter of Pecard Leather Products and I have taken his advice extensively for all my leather needs. However, Michaelson advised that the Goatskin responds better to Lexol Leather Conditioner, as the pores of the leather are tighter and accept the Lexol better. He was right and I’ve treated my jacket repeatedly with this product. Lexol Leather Conditioner is a milky liquid that penetrates and softens the leather and when dry leaves absolutely no residue or stickiness.

Michael

Hear, hear.

I've used Lexol exclusively on jackets since my first Navy G-1 25 years ago, per a vendor's recommendation. It's said that the Smithsonian uses Lexol (and apparently Leatherique as well) on their historic leather.

Tundrarider wrote:The next best tool is to "Wear it." ......

........Finally, occasional Lexol/Pecards/Letaps treatments is encouraged. I condition the jacket whenever the mood strikes me and have not noticed any ill effects. No build up or residue.

These are the only two 'tools' I've ever used in all my years wearing leather and involved in this hobby, with the added two products in red above, and my jackets have aged very nicely.

Regards! Michaelson

Looks great, Michael!


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Tundrarider wrote:Thanks, Luke! Your Expedition is older than mine; how is it looking these days? Feel free to post pics pictures here if you like!

Michael

Thanks, Michael. I've posted over in the Expedition thread so I don't derail yours. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48537&p=836450#p836450

Your Expedition is still the best I've seen--well-done on the (mostly) naturally distressing!

Best wishes,
Dr. Luke

Great continued results on your Expedition, Michael! How often do you give it the Lexol and/or pillowcase treatment?

Goat doesn't seem to readily distress because it purposely wears like iron. The wide availability of serviceable vintage goat flight jackets is a testament to this.

From what I've seen, goatskin eventually shows wear at seams and high points, but not much else. My G-1 is almost 2 decades old, and with only some creases and wrinkling, still looks great.

Tundrarider wrote:

Cajunkraut wrote:Great continued results on your Expedition, Michael! How often do you give it the Lexol and/or pillowcase treatment?

The jacket gets the
Lexol treatment whenever it feels like it's been a while! I'd venture to guess maybe three or four times a year? After I apply the treatment, I hang the jacket out in the sun on a padded coat hanger until it dries. This is the only time the jacket is ever on a hanger!

As for the pillowcase treatment? The jacket has been balled up in a pillowcase and tucked underneath my arm every night for several years now. During daylight hours, (when I'm not wearing it) the jacket is slung over the rail of my Hall Tree.

Thanks, Cajun!

Michael

Just waiting for my new jacket to try it out those wonderful tips

I purchased my goat Expo in early September of this year based on the incredible reviews from Tundrarider. I have, since the purchase, slept in it nightly, worn it whenever I can, crumple it in a ball in the corner of the bedroom, and rubbed the jacket on the carpet which knocked down the shiny quite a bit. I've a way to go, but it looks more relaxed than when I first got it. You gentlemen have inspired me and I thank you. I love this jacket and my new AB (11/13) so much that when me and my wonderful lady go out she ask me, "You rocking the Indy?" I reply ,"Why yes". She then dresses with a 40's or 50's style. So, I hope in a couple years down the line, my natural distressing will be worthy to join your ranks of good looking jackets!

Will do Tundra! Once the dust settles from the Holiday madness I will take a few photos of the jacket at post them in said thread.

I have used the water method on a few of my goatskin jackets with good success. It does seem to mater on how the skin was tanned though. Some jackets developed stretch like marked and some looked grainy. All of them looked great though.