Dear Kamerads

As part of my BMW R71 combo replica project I've bought a pair of expensive WH style natural leather saddle bags / panniers from Old Timer Garage, Poland.

However, they are very natural new untreated leather with hardly any colour at all - check out this link:

http://www.oldtimergarage.eu/catalog/pr ... ts_id=3126

I've researched on-line and believe the originals were various colour shades of mid tan to dark brown.

I've also Googled several leather treatment products such as the following:

Horse Saddle Leather.
Carr & Day & Martin PURE Neatsfoot oil.
Carr & Day & Martin KO-CHO-LINE.
Effax Leather Balm.

However, some of the leather treatments state they are not suitable for aniline or untreated leather, suede or nubuck - which is all very confusing...

Therefore, I would very much appreciate any advice on the correct WH period colour and leather treatment please. ....

Hello
If you use neats foot oil initially and the leather fat as using the oil will rott the stitching long term they will then turn the correct colour
Cheers kk

Hi KK, many thanks for your prompt response.

Sorry not sure which product is the Leather fat - do you mean:

First - Carr & Day & Martin PURE Neatsfoot oil on the natural untreated oil.

Then - Carr & Day & Martin KO-CHO-LINE after the Neatsfoot oil?

Or - Effax Leather Balm after the Neatsfoot oil?

Or is there another Leather Fat or Neatsfoot Oil you would recommend?

....

"will rott the stitching long term"

for the millionth bloody time - no it bloody well wont!!!!!!!!!!!!!

_________________
Gliderinf / Luftlande

what they mean - is that if you oil a modern suade jacket - you'll make dark marks on it - and then complain that its ruined.

Just like when you put it on flesh coloured kit - it'll darken it - like its supposed to. thats why the origional kit is varying shades - just depends how many times its been oiled. it all starts off flesh.

Though I think people (in their hast to make it the "right" colour) tend to overdo it. it doesnt need much and it doesnt need it often. Its new = its meant to be light colour.

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Gliderinf / Luftlande

Something else other than the oil he used must have rottid the stitching on daves NSU then? Have you got a set? I have a pair about 65 years old and I won't use oil on them only clear leder fett from German eBay but what do I know we'll it works for me

Also the expieriance I had using oil on my original u boat/panzer trousers it rotted the stitching on those too hence them now on a dolly in a museum in a 251D, I won't use it on the jacket only fat

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.de/viewitem? ... 9764605144

I found this on my phone on eBay.de I hope the link works

The answer to the neatsfoot oil conundrum is that synthetic neatsfoot is the one that rots stitching... pure neatsfoot is supposed to be OK.

KO-CHO-LINE is good stuff though... as is Lederfett... Dubbin...

I wouldn't worry too much about colour, a single treatment of any good leather oil will darken it considerably, then dirt will accumulate, then in a few months it might get oiled again... and so the darkening process continues... all the way to brownish black! It's what they did...

_________________
David

Stimme aus dem sumpf...

STURMPANZER ABTEILUNG

Many thanks for your responses and really useful advice, fellas ...

Ive also checked out Horsey Riders Forums and they also appear to agree Neatsfoot compound or synthetic is the Stitch Rotting Culprit...

However, the popular Carr Day Martin Neatsfoot oil tin states its a Compound - but won't rot Stitching....

What do you think - is it safe to use on natural untreated leather saddle bags

So long as it is natural neatsfoot from actual cow's hooves it should be OK - avoid the synthetic, the ingredients list should make it clear which it is...

_________________
David

Stimme aus dem sumpf...

STURMPANZER ABTEILUNG

If you're worried about the stitching, use dubbin/lederfett - its primarily bee's wax and animal fat. Bee's wax is usually used to treat threads for leatherwork, so it's not going to rot the thread.

Being realistic, if they are well made, chances are they are stitched with waxed thread, which increases the strength of the thread, makes it easier to sew with(aslong as your needle eye is big enough!), but it also gives the thread some degree of protection against rotting caused by water, chemicals, etc. You'd probably get a decent life out of them using neatsfoot anyway.

_________________

FLEXALAN.

http://www.flexalan.com/product/8.aspx

Mine took about half a tin each - just brush on and let is soak in.. Once oiled the colour will grow with age.

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SS UntSch. Karl Schneider.
1.SS Pz. Div. Leibstandarte AH - SBG

Thanks for all your replies fellas...

Flexalan looks interesting - will check it out...

Btw - Unfortunately, Carr Davies Martin Neatsfoot oil compound doesn't identify the ingredients