Leather help.

[titanius anglesmith]

Hello everyone, i have been having a clear out ,with all the rubbish that gets thrown into the cupboard under the kitchen sink. I came across a piece of leather, but it is cover'd in grey mould. I would like to use it to have a go at making a sheath / pouch / container for my Svord peasant knife. What would be the best way to kill the mould without damaging the leather. I was thinking about a mild solution of bleach, but as it is dye'd black i don't know if this would be a good way to go. Or should i just throw it and get a new piece. Any suggestion would be good. By the way it is veg tanned.
Regards Chris.

 

[punkrockcaveman]

This is no professional reply, but if it were me, I'd try drying it on a radiator, brushing with a stiff brush, washing with sponge and warm soapy water and drying with heat again, then maybe applying a little wax polish/boot polish.

 

[Woody girl]

Do not dry leather with anything other than gentle warm air.
Think how you dry wet leather boots or gloves.
Once it goes mouldy and starts smelling you have an almost impossible job to make it smell nice again.
Not a professional reply here either, but I have made a pair of celtic shoes years ago. They were put away for a long time and became realy mouldy and smelly. Nothing I did made any difference to the smell. I did get them clean and shiny looking again but just couldn't shift the smell.
I'd get a new bit of leather for your project. If you are going to go to the effort of making something you want to have decent materials to work with or you will be dissopointed with the result.

 

[titanius anglesmith]

Punckrockcaveman and Woody Girl, thanks for taking the time to reply. I think i will bin it and get a new piece.
Regards Chris.