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Post by tjcain on Aug 26, 2011 18:30:36 GMT
As my first question here on SBG, I will ask a rather stupid one. On other sites that sell items and some that do not, they all say one should use mink oil and/or leather paste to maintain a scabbard and hilt.
Is it advisable to use leather soap and something like Kiwi and brush or spit shine your scabbard/hilt?
Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thomas
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Post by Elheru Aran on Aug 26, 2011 20:20:15 GMT
If you don't seal it somehow it's liable to rub off on your clothes or hands. The thing is it's not like a dye that permeates the leather; rather, it just shines up the surface of the leather, as far as I know. It will color undyed leather, though, IIRC. If you want to shine the leather I suggest using leather soap and a soft cloth to buff it afterwards.
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Post by chrisperoni on Aug 26, 2011 20:33:00 GMT
(sold shoes for a few years.... learned a bit about this stuff then)
Leather soap, aka saddle soap helps treat and moisturize the leather, so that's a good thing. The Kiwi sponge thingys just coat the leather in shiney- they are best for patent leather and can dry out regular leather in the long run- if you use one a good trick is to put it in a nylon stocking (cut the excess off)- makes it last twice as long.
Leather paste or similar cram polishes need a good buffing after application or they will rub as Elheru said. They are good for filling cracks and evening colour.
Sprays- try to find non alcohol based sprays for sealing/waterproofing.
The above applies for leather. For suede and nubuck the rules are way different.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Aug 26, 2011 21:23:21 GMT
WHAT are you polishing exactly. If it is a windlass pleather product it doesn't need colored polish. anyway. Older leathers are pretty color fast, so your principle concern is maintaining some moisture and life in the leather; then sealing it with a wax base to keep it in place.
I just use Mothers Car leather care for most stuff as it is a mix of Lanolin and Neatfoot oil that isn't to detergent to pull up the dye. Buff that out and either use Mcguires Final inspection carnuba spray or renwax to seal and polish. For pleather I just use the Mcguires.
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Post by freq on Aug 26, 2011 21:28:44 GMT
hi thomas and welcome, now this is a question im eminently qualified to answer. as im a shoe repairer by trade. no offence but it wont "colour" undyed leather it will coat the surface but wont permeate, so will rub off on anything it comes into contact with leaving you with at best a streaky looking piece of leather even if sealed, as for saddle soap its great if you have to keep your scabbard weather proof and oily. this can lead to it leaving an oily residue on clothes or other things it comes into contact with read the name it gives huge hint as to what its for :lol: kiwi is the cheap end of the market and really waxy not a good idea for using on a high end item like a sword as it dries out and looses its luster, mink oils the best for putting nourishment back into leather but its pricey, other alternatives are neatsfoot oil or lannonlin based polish eg leatherpol or leather dew, to put colour back that wont rub off use collinil silicone polish great colour permeation and buffs up great also designed for bags gloves and jackets so wont rub off, final suggestion is use a polish designed for leather furniture as wont rub off and nourishes the leather, hope it helps no such thing as stupid question when you need help only stupid answers
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Post by Odingaard on Aug 26, 2011 21:55:50 GMT
On actual leather scabbards/grips, I have used real shoe polish for years with no ill-effects. If it's buffed well, it won't rub off on you. Normally, I use the neutral color, but I do have some oxblood, black, and brown I keep around. It works well for scuffs and scrapes. These days, I use Tandy Eco-Flow Leather Sheen to give things a servicable shine and durable finish, but nothing covers minor damage as well as some good old shoe polish between leather sheen treatments.
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Post by tjcain on Aug 27, 2011 3:18:32 GMT
Thanks for the advice and the help everyone. Right Now my "collection" all told might come to maybe $1200.00. That excludes one that is a steel scabbard that I need to get buffed and another that has no scabbard. I am going to make one for it after seeing the tutorials.
Hopefully I be able to buy two more in a couple of weeks. I only buy about 4-5 a year right now and I have had that itch for quite some time now.
Thanks again for the help.
Thomas
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