Leather upholstery conditioner............

sidevalve8ba

sidevalve8ba

Well-known member
I have leather seat upholstery in my '32. I am looking for suggestions from you folks about what you have found to be really good leather conditioners or preservers. I have several good cleaners that do a good job but I guess I am looking for a product with probably a lot of lanolin or something similar to preserve the leather and keep it supple. What can you recommend? Thanks.
 
sidevalve8ba said:
I have leather seat upholstery in my '32. I am looking for suggestions from you folks about what you have found to be really good leather conditioners or preservers. I have several good cleaners that do a good job but I guess I am looking for a product with probably a lot of lanolin or something similar to preserve the leather and keep it supple. What can you recommend? Thanks.
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Lexol, Lexol, Lexol. Might I repeat? LEXOL!

I've been using this brand for decades on both leather interiors and horse saddles. Rest assured i speak from a lot of personal experience. Some of those saddles cost more than the leather in your '32 or my '40 Fords. No way would I even consider another option.

Just as a side note of sorts... I'll learned a "trick" many years ago that provides better penetration of the conditioner. Warm it up as much as your hands can tolerate. Years ago, I'd achieve this utilizing a double boiler. Now? Microwave for one minute, maybe two...
 
Kube said:
Lexol, Lexol, Lexol. Might I repeat? LEXOL!

I've been using this brand for decades on both leather interiors and horse saddles. Rest assured i speak from a lot of personal experience. Some of those saddles cost more than the leather in your '32 or my '40 Fords. No way would I even consider another option.

Just as a side note of sorts... I'll learned a "trick" many years ago that provides better penetration of the conditioner. Warm it up as much as your hands can tolerate. Years ago, I'd achieve this utilizing a double boiler. Now? Microwave for one minute, maybe two...
Click to expand...

Kube,
I was married to a woman who was into horse many years ago so I learned of Lexol then. I used it on my motorcycle jacket for years. Kept it in great shape! I have a trigger-spray bottle of their conditioner that I use. Do they offer any products to further treat the leather?
 
sidevalve8ba said:
Kube,
I was married to a woman who was into horse many years ago so I learned of Lexol then. I used it on my motorcycle jacket for years. Kept it in great shape! I have a trigger-spray bottle of their conditioner that I use. Do they offer any products to further treat the leather?
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Ted,
Then you KNOW what quality saddles cost :)
My wife and I came to an understanding years ago... I don't ask what the new horse cost, she doesn't question a "new" car. Works well for us.
I am not aware of any other Lexol conditioner other than the one I've been using for longer than I care to admit. Honestly, I don't see where you can go wrong with that product.
 
Another old time leather conditioner that has been in use in saddler forever is Fiebing's Neatsfoot oil. Had the original leather seats in a '31 Deluxe roadster than I brought back from the edge, and kept like new with Neatsfoot oil. Kube's trick works great. I leave the seats in the sun for awhile, and then apply the neatsfoot oil. Let it set for awhile, then buff the excess off. You would be surprised at how much 85 year old leather can absorb.
 
russcc said:
Another old time leather conditioner that has been in use in saddler forever is Fiebing's Neatsfoot oil. Had the original leather seats in a '31 Deluxe roadster than I brought back from the edge, and kept like new with Neatsfoot oil. Kube's trick works great. I leave the seats in the sun for awhile, and then apply the neatsfoot oil. Let it set for awhile, then buff the excess off. You would be surprised at how much 85 year old leather can absorb.
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I had forgotten about Neatsfoot oil. I used to use that on my baseball gloves. Good stuff that, as you say, has been around forever.
 
Neatsfoot oil is a good product for finished leather. However, make sure it's Neatsfoot oil, not Neatsfoot compound. It is my understanding that the latter contains petro chemicals which isn't too great for the leather and will do a real number (as in rotting) the stitching especially if it's linen or other natural fibers.
 
mike42 said:
I just looked up Lexol and it comes in all kinds of forms. Which is the best ?

Thx
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I'd stay away from any "one bottle cleans & conditions" type of chemical.
I'd recently renewed my supply and found Amazon to be a good deal.

Lexol 1013 Leather Conditioner, 1-Liter
 
Russcc.....your note reminded me of the time some years ago that I ran into an "old" 1920'2 Buxton Golf Bag all leather. It was perfect for the Walter Hagen Hickory Shafted Clubs, so I bought it. I pulled out the new bottle of Neatsfoot Oil and used up the whole bottle and went down and bought another one to finish. That small old bag soaked up all that oil and it looked great, but you wonder where the hell it all went !

Mike
 
the maroon leather in my Model A was taken from an old couch I bought from a University frat house, it was very cheap as the cushions were trashed, but the leather however was and is in great shape. So going by it's history, it appears coeds are the best conditioner for leather...
 
White64....you're so disgusting, but you know what.....I kinda like that in a guy !! Just sayin'.....

Mike
 
I know! But! I'm learning to live with my shortcomings... ( ...and I even cleaned it up a bit before I posted it!)
 
Kube....just got my jug of Lexol and it is really great stuff. I'm running around using it on everything I have in leather. It really conditions old leather great !

Mike
 
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