Re: [CR] Leather Preservation and Restoration

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

From: "Ted Ernst" <ternst1@cox.net>
To: <brianbaylis@juno.com>, <devondirect@googlemail.com>
References: <20100502.095053.27738.1@webmail07.vgs.untd.com>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 10:23:35 -0700
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Leather Preservation and Restoration


It was suggested that Neatsfoot Oil deteriorated leather in the long run. People in hiking/sporting goods shops recommended Skunk Oil, Saddle Soap, and Lexol. Bike guys all knew about Proofide and we used that regularly. I "force" treated my saddles by giving a nice coat or two of oil usually Lexol underneath the saddle. Then I put a heavy towel around the seat and heated it with an nice strong hair dryer so it was just too hot to touch and needed gloves to hold the seat. When it was nice and warm I turned the saddle over and rubbed a rolling pin or large wooden round handle ie. dowling and rubbed the top of the seat hard enuf to soften but not so hard to tear at the rivets and weaken the saddle. Gently as she goes. Look at it, felt it up and rubbed/rolled where was firmer. When I was satisfied that entire saddle was softened up a little to be flexy and more comfortable, care given not to make the center too soft so it would sink too much I ceased and desisted. Put just a little more oil on bottom, finished off top with Proofide and put it on bike to ride. You could also wallop the top of the saddle with a rubber mallet, but that also took a good degree of irrational exhuberance control so as not to have it beat down like a sway back mule. I softened many a saddle for dozens of riders thru the years and never had a complaint. Took a little experimenting on older junky seats, but then we had plenty of them and it was what we used, so we didn't feel like the museum curators would ride us out of town on a rail for molesting artifacts. When we bent a front derailleur cage to eliminate rub and work while missing crank, hey, success! If it got nicked, so what, shut up and ride. And we liked it! We were bun happy family!
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA


----- Original Message -----
From: brianbaylis@juno.com
To: devondirect@googlemail.com
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [CR] Leather Preservation and Restoration



>
> Derek,
>
> Tony is not the only person who says Neatsfoot oil is not ideal for
> bicycle saddles. I have heard that since the early 70's. It's not a new
> view and it's not really that uncommon. Why Neatsfoot is not ideal, I do
> not know, off hand. But one thing I do know is that leather is a rather
> unique material with many amazing properties. How to get the best out of
> any given leather material may vary with the application and the type of
> leather (how it was tanned or treated along with what animal it came from)
> along with other factors such as age and how it may have been treated in
> the past.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
>
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Derek Athey <devondirect@googlemail.com>
> To: Tony Colegrave <tony_colegrave@hotmail.com>
> Cc: Rendezvous Classic <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: Re: [CR] Leather Preservation and Restoration
> Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 16:35:55 +0100
>
> Tony
>
> I am surrpised that you, of all people with such esteemed knowledge of all
> things Brooks, should deride Neats Foot Oil. Why is it that for decades
> pre-war, cycle riders used Neats Foot Oil on bicycle saddles prior to
> Proofide coming on the market? All the old cycling maintenace books I've
> ever read suggest Neat for conditioning saddles once a year or for
> reconditioning.
>
> I would be interested in your reasoning for your comments.
>
> Regards
> Derek Athey
> Honiton, Devon UK
>
> On Sun, May 2, 2010 at 12:17 PM, Tony Colegrave
> <tony_colegrave@hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Bill,
>>
>> Application to different items of 'cycling heritage' will differ, of
>> course, but I'd strongly advise against the use of neatsfoot, or any
>> other
>> such oil, on the traditional suspension-type cycle saddle - if you intend
>> to
>> ride the saddle, that is.
>>
>> Use of such stuff on horse saddles may well be fine (I'm doubtful, but
>> have no practical experience), but it's use on cycle saddles, IMO,
>> seriously
>> impairs the cardinal virtues of leather for this specific purpose and
>> it'll
>> do harm to a good saddle, and nothing to improve a bad one - as well as
>> messing any light-coloured clothing that you might be wearing in the
>> 'saddle
>> area'!
>>
>> Proofide, when used sparingly, will certainly do no harm and is
>> probably
>> beneficial (if only because it's occasional application might concentrate
>> attention on the general condition of the saddle), but a far more
>> important
>> consideration is the environment in which the saddle is maintained when
>> not
>> in use - and the care with which it's treated when in use, of course.
>>
>> Periodic cleansing, to remove accumulated 'crud' (especially salt) and
>> coincidentally re-hydrate the leather, will do much to prolong the life
>> of a
>> regular, frequent 'rider' - and you'll find that this is much less easy
>> to
>> accomplish if it's been 'treated' with oil, as well.
>>
>> Regards, Tony.
>>
>> > Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 18:43:15 +0100
>> > From: devondirect@googlemail.com
>> > To: bill.bgibson@gmail.com
>> > CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>> > Subject: Re: [CR] Leather Preservation and Restoration
>>
>> >
>> > Hello Bill
>> >
>> > You can find a stockist of Brooks saddles and buy a tin of 'Proofide' a
>> > specially formulated paste that you rub into the leather that preserves
>> and
>> > protects it from attack from your 'tush', sun and rain.
>> >
>> > Alternatively, go to a 'saddlery' (of which I think there must be
>> thousands
>> > in a state such as Arizona!) and buy some 'Neats Foot' oil, which is
>> > used
>> to
>> > protect and clean horse riding saddles. This can be a messy business,
>> > but
>> > works well here in the UK. I use it all once ayear on my collection of
>> > saddles.
>> >
>> > Good luck
>> > Derek Athey
>> > Honiton, Devon UK
>> >
>> > On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 6:21 PM, Bill Gibson <bill.bgibson@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > > This topic comes up now and then, but products for and myths
>> > > surrounding leather preservation and restoration come and go. Are
>> > > there any good references, in print or online, that members have
>> > > found
>> > > useful as they use and preserve cycling heritage? Any general
>> > > principles that apply? Saddles, gloves, shoes, toe clip straps all
>> > > are
>> > > exposed to sweat, wet, dirt, and sun, and all are more or less wear &
>> > > tear items like tires and chains and everything else.
>> > >
>> > > Products that have served well should be currently available or have
>> > > a
>> > > recipe with ingredients that exist, not possess magical powers, and
>> > > be reasonably priced, if possible! I'm comfortable with Chemistry,
>> > > and
>> > > am thinking this might be a good topic for a cycling centered
>> > > article.
>> > >
>> > > There's a lot online, but I'm looking for some of your wisdom and
>> > > experience to share! Thank You!
>> > > --
>> > > Bill Gibson
>> > > Tempe, Arizona, USA
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > >
>> > _______________________________________________
>>
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