Oil Removal

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

Back before I knew better, I got a new rifle sling that I wanted to both soften and preserve, so I soaked it in Olive Oil.  Well, I've tried and tried to get out a lot of the oil, but no matter how much I've tried to soak it out (putting the leather between folds of a towel and squeezing as hard as possible) it's still WAY too oily. 


I did try heavy oiling a couple times to other items and for THOSE purposes, it was OK.  It's only when I actually DIPPED this sling in a bowl full that I over-did it!

Is there any hope?  Or do I need to save my pennies for a new (rather expensive) sling?

Thanks -

SHB

[Hank Rugerman]

SHB....

A couple things come to mind....

Not really sure what kind of finish you have on the sling....or if it has tooling..

If it's just tanned leather with no finish, except oil...I would try an Acteone flush or wipe down....make sure you wear rubber gloves...don't want that stuff soaking into your skin...This may be a better way to go if it's tooled.

If you do have a finish, you may also want to try a degreaser.....I would test the degreaser in an area....you know the drill.

If you prefer no chemicals, and it may be a better way to try first is.......HOT water...If it was me I would heat up water in a pan to the point it's just a little to hot to keep your hand in....submerse the sling and let it soak for a bit...It should release the olive oil.
This could be pretty harsh on tooling if the sling has it...

Lay the piece on a towel to dry and cool off, before handling again.

Remember...leather is skin....after you remove the oil....use a conditioner...some like Lexol, other good conditioners are available form a local western shop, or Tandy.

The above comments, right/wrong, or indifferent, is based on what I know, and what I would do...then again I might be buying a new sling too...but then again....

I'm sure that other fellows here have home remedies that they will share...

Good luck

[Deadeye Don]

Jeff,   ACE Hardware also carries Lexol products.

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[Dalton Masterson]

Do what I do for oily gunstocks. Soak it in kitty litter.
Put a bunch of kitty litter in a black plastic trash bag, put oily item in bag, lay on dash of truck for day and check. Will cook a lot of it out.
Now, this will also dry out your leather, so be ready with first aid items (Lexol). DM

[St. George]

Unscented Cat Litter or Cornstarch will both absorb the excess oil in your leather - and even in gunstocks.

Both are cheap - and they work 'very' well.

They'll pretty much leave the piece as it was - sans oils - whereas the different degreasers can cause your leather to soften unduly or stretch, and hot water can cause your leather to to discolor.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks, gents.

I like the "natural" idea using cornstarch.

St.G., this is a repro leather sling for my Garand, marked MRT (Moisture Resistant Treatment) but not marked like the Turner versions.

I also have a Jap sling (in great shape - and rather rare, I think) on my Type I rifle that looks as if it was done the same way, but I didn't do it, so it may be Neatsfoot.  Either way, I'll give it the cornstarch treatment, too.

Thanks again to all!

SHB

[St. George]

Actually - 'MRT' stands for 'Mildew Resistant Treatment', and you'll see that marking on an awful lot of gear - beginning in late WWII.

The leather M1907 slings used by the various Shooting Teams and supplied through the Army were sometimes date-marked, but were always marked 'MRT'.

Japanese slings will be found in every condition imaginable - from oil-soaked to bone dry.

The IJA issued slings made from leather, leather and canvas, fabric and rubber, cloth web and even rope, so you'll encounter a myriad of 'correct' slings for the Type 99.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!