Dubbin

[Red Cent]

Anybody use this stuff? Ran across this on another forum and was interested in how popular is the stuff.

[Camano Ridge]

Dubbin, is an old time leather treatment used since midevil times. True dubbin is made of oils and tallow. It  has been mentioned a few times by Chuck Burrows and is similar I think to more modern products like Montana Pitch blend and Skidmores.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

We used it on our hiking boots when I was a scout.  It used to be standard boot dressing for logging boots all up & down the Wet Coast. It was made obsolete by all sorts of new-age products.

[Red Cent]

What modern product would equal Dubbin? 12 oz for $25.00 + shipping.

Just re read CR's post. I was aware of Skidmores. Didn't realize it had the same qualities as Dubbin.

[Camano Ridge]

It is similar not exact it is made from plants and bees wax. It is $11.00 for 6oz  It does help with water resistance. It will get a nice mellow shine to it.  Montana Pitch blend is made of mink oil, bees wax and pine pitch. It also helps with water resistance.
Like Sir Charles a long time ago I used it on boots and an old leather back pack. It does not really shine.

[St. George]

The Army issued Dubbing for decades.

It did a great job of keeping leather supple, but it really didn't breathe - making walking a moist affair after treatment.

You can still find cans of the WWII-issued stuff around - still just as good today as it was during that war.

'Sno-Pruf' and 'Snow-Shield' and the like all have good properties for keeping leather in good working order.

Scouts Out!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi.

I like Skidmore's 'cause I respect the family ethic involved. Pick up a phone to order some and you are probably talking to a Skidmore.

All things being the same (mostly), I do support them.

http://www.skidmores.com/

TTFN,

[Oregon Bill]

I grew up smellin' this stuff soaking into Dad's logger's corks. It only dates to 1929, but the mixture is much older.

http://www.amazon.com/Huberds-HSG-Shoe-Grease-7-5/dp/B000MLBCWM

[1961MJS]

Hi

I own some Hebard's, but have only used it on a cartridge box that I haven't used in a decade or more.

I have purchased several tubs of Dubbin and used it on a pair of WW2 roughouts.  They ARE hot because the Dubbin keeps the air and water out of your boots.  I wouldn't hesitate to use if on any boots that I have.

One thing that works REALLY well with Dubbin, and I assume with both Hebard's and Skidmore's, is to grease up your boots and put them in a plastic bag in your trunk in the Summer.  it helps the grease soak in really well.

Just my $0.02

Mike

[Massive]

What do you want it for?  Are you using it for boots or something else.  Dubbin, in the original version can go rancid.  I prefer bee products.

One other thing you need to know is whether you want to soften leather or not.  Stuff like bike seats or holsters, I don't want to soften.  But some stuff may benefit.  Read labels and see whether what you are getting will soften your leather.

You can dissolve wax into oil or finish by grating it into fine form, then it dissolves easily in linseed oil.  Maybe it could be dissolved into neatsfoot, or neatsfoot with another oil added.

I use this stuff, and have for 35 years.

http://www.beeseal.co.nz/

Beeswax is one of those amazing materials.  Years ago when I took up woodturning, I had a fixed center.  So the wood would spin against it, and catch on fire.  I used an expensive silicon super grease to reduce friction, but it would wear out and burn eventually.  One day I tried Beeswax.  Amazing stuff it never caught on fire, or lost it's lubricity.  It is one of those amazing products, like shellac.

[GunClick Rick]

Bear grease and bees wax,got some from an old bear hunter i knew.He poured it in cookie tins and gave people a few when they visited.His dogs would have bear bones all over the yard.

[Red Cent]

Massive, I read about it in another forum. They were using it as a finish of sorts. I had never heard of it and was curious if you folks were familiar with the stuff.