Softening leather

[Mat]

Someone has given me an old weight lifting belt which I hope to use a leather strop for sharpening my knife. The trouble is the leather is very stiff and inflexible. Is there anything I can use to help soften it? I've tried working the leather backwards and forwards with my hands and it has helped a little, but it is still rock solid!

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[WilS]

Try your local farmers shop, they should have neatsfoot oil. Just brush it on, dead easy. Probably be on the same shelves as all the horsey-type gear.
Will.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Mat, I agree with WilS advice,
But maybe a weightlifters belt was designed to be very stiff - on account of having to provide back support to the wearer. A trip to any charity shop should see several ordinary belts for just a quid a shot! I'm not trying to put you off, but there may be some leather treatment or inner layer thats doing its job.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Bernie Garland]

Try your local farmers shop, they should have neatsfoot oil. Just brush it on, dead easy. Probably be on the same shelves as all the horsey-type gear.
Will.

Wills is right neetsfoot oil that'll do the trick

Bernie

 

[Mat]

Thank you for your replies. My wife is a horsey-type and had also suggested neats foot oil so I'll give that a try.

For some reason my local charity shops never seem to have decent leather belts for sale

 

[Dougster]

I've probably got enough 3mm in the scrap box to make a scandi strop (short and wide, glued to a flat surface)

 

[WilS]

Good point Mr. Ogri, they are really thick belts. I suppose you could mess about with it, see if its skivable, but it'd probably be easier to keep scrounging around. My charity shops are always well sorted for such things!

 

[mr dazzler]

Just on the subject of neat foot oil, I used some recently to revive my clog leather. I noticed it smelled the same as dubbin, do they contain the same stuff? My dad only ever used dubbin on his boots and I never forgot the smell, quite pleasant, not gammy like tallow

 

[WilS]

To be honest, I've no idea whats in it, but if you ever fancy making your own leather treatment, liquid paraffin and beeswax are the best base ingredients I've used.

 

[Mat]

That's a nifty trick WilS. I wa actually given two belts so I might try the homemade version on my 'spare'.

Thanks!

 

[DoctorSpoon]

Years ago I remember going into Boots to buy liquid paraffin for some leather treatment that Robin wanted to make. The lass behind the counter offered me a rather small bottle, so I asked for two, to which she replied, "It's not good to take too much at once, you know."

 

[WilS]

Try these proportions:
1oz Beeswax
2oz candlewax
5oz Liquid paraffin

That should make a nice rub-in-able treatment. Its a recipe far, far older than me, so it must be ok.

 

[TheGreenMan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mink_oil

Best regards,
Paul.