Restoring Old Boots

[Shotgun Franklin]

I have an old pair of boots. The leather is not cracked but is really stiff. I have over the years put Neat's Foot Oil on'm but they really need something to soften the leather. What you ya'll recommend?

[Bugscuffle]

Saddle soap followed by Neats Foot oil.

[St. George]

Neutral Shoe Polish, Mink Oil, Lexol, Pecard's, Danner's Boot Dressing and even plain, ol' Saddle Soap will soften your boots - though they won't return them to the original color, but you'd be surprised at how clean the Neutral Shoe Polish will clean them.

Scouts Out!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I have two pair of SASS boots that I only put Skidmores on... i put it on thick and let it dry, then give then a stiff brushing ... it really softens it up !

[Jubal Starbuck]

 I have used Dr. Jackson's Hide Rejuvenator for about 20 years and have had excellent results.  Got it from Tandy/Leather Factory.

[Major 2]

I've used Mink Oil, Lexol, Pecard's, but now I'm another fan of Skidmores.

[Skeeter Lewis]

The advantage of Lexol is that it doesn't leave an oily residue.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

I find Skidmores works the best for me when it comes to restoring, leather and breathing new life back into it, and my leather just looks great after using it.

          tEN wOLVES 

[Cliff Fendley]

Skidmores is good stuff, I've tried lexol over and over again and never get the results others claim.

[Bonnie_blue1861]

Good thread on softening old boots. I still have my original "jump boots" from when I was in the Army, back in the late 1980's. I had new soles on them a few years ago but the leather has really stiffened up a lot.

It's not that I would wear them much...if at all ...but it would be nice to get the leather softened up again, to preserve them for sentimental value. 

[Missouri Ruffian]

The original thread specified the leather wasn't cracked.  Obviously, besides the before mentioned products to supple the leather what repairs, if any, can be undertaken to repair cracks in the leather?

[St. George]

Pretty much nothing...

The leather's not 'live', any longer - nothing can make it regenerate like cracked skin.

About all one can do is to make them 'presentable' - because if those cracks are eventually filled with polish - that polish will crack, as well.

Leather's funny stuff - I have my original pair of Jump Boots, from back when they issued them to us, and they're dated 1967.

Because I took good care of them and stripped the polish and re-dyed them periodically - they look parade-ready today, while other pairs couldn't stand up to the abuse.

I picked up a barrel full of old Cavalry leather some years back - all of it was dry as a bone and twisted into whatever shape it got into over the decades.

Most was before-the-turn-of-the-century, and none was later than WWI - over time, I immersed them in a 5-gallon pail of Lexol, and all their original suppleness reappeared.

Did it with a crate of M1916 holsters, as well - they came out nicely.

You never know.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Shotgun Franklin]

I haven't been to town since I posted but found some Mink Oil in my saddle stuff. I put it on then used a hair dryer to heat the boots. They sucked up nearly all the Mink Oil and the boots look much better. When I do make it to town I'll see if I can find some Skidmores. So far they look and feel much better.

[St. George]

Just for the hell of it - apply Mink Oil to the interior of the boot, as well - it can work wonders for suppleness, but your socks will be a bit oil-stained for a few washings.

Scouts Out!

[Johnny McCrae]

I use Skidmore's for just about everything. It does a great job on my CAS boots along with my motorcycle leather and boots.

Skidmore's can be hard to find in stores. Here is their website  http://www.skidmores.com/