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May 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Knoxville, TN | Hello all,
I have a genuine leather guitar strap that a friend made for me many years ago. The leather was so stiff that it nearly tore my strap buttons off trying to take it on and off the guitar. I would like to start using it and was wondering if there are any "homemade" solutions for softening the leather. Or could you recommend store bought products? Which works best? Thanks. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Don't they use Mink Oil to soften up baseball gloves? |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Try soaking it in linseed oil. Just dry it well before using it to make sure you don't get oil stain on your clothes. Of course in the case of Moody's wifebeaters that wouldn't be a problem would it.
Dave |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | warm it in the oven (170) for about 10 minutes and then slather with Neatsfoot oil or Vaseline or Mink oil etc... in light coats. Wipe the excess off, repeat until it softens to preference. This will significantly darken the color. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Or if taking it on and off the strap buttons was the only problem, trying adding dunlop strap locks. |
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April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Get some saddle soap and use that....then the mink oil...repeat as needed. This will keep the same color as well as soften the leather. |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Guys,
Be careful if you use linseed oil. It is known to spontaneously compbust. It's ok once it's dry, but don't throw an oil soaked papertowel in the trashcan, and wash your cloth rags imediatley or keep them in an air tight "rag-can".
a little "shop-safety" could save your house, your life, and most importantly, your Ovation collection :p :D :p :D
I'm only kidding around about the last part. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | There's no kidding around about this. I used to have a roommate who oiled his dining room table then tossed the rags used in the trash. I came home to find the dining room and kitchen of the condo fried. I called the fire department to find out what had happened and they traced the beginning of the fire to those rags. I was just lucky that everything I owned, which was in my bedroom, was gone. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by GregoryS:
Get some saddle soap and use that....then the mink oil...repeat as needed. This will keep the same color as well as soften the leather. I've never used mink oil that didn't darken the leather, even with wax products (saddle soap).
I'll also add this to my previous post...if you use Vaseline, only use it once to soften the leather, don't use it for ongoing maintenance as leather doesn't like petrolium products over long term repeated use.... |
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Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | I've done it with hand made boots and saddles for years, never had a problem with it changing the color... |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | interesting. |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | PM,
I have used socks and Tshirts that thought were all cotton with linseed oil and such. If there is any synthetic in there they will slowly combust. Several in a closed bag will ignite.
It is difficult to find all cotton anymore.
That's why you need a segregated metal hopper for your rags.
You are also fortunate it didn't damage the Rotary Engine you were rebuilding in the Living Room! Or was that the transmission? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Just a little of whatever kind of oil and then work it on and off the knob. It will loosen up fairly quickly. Don't get it too soft cause then you'll have problems the other way. I find that when I break in a new El Dorado strap it takes about a week. You still want it pretty stiff around the knob to make sure it will hold. If not go for the strap lock solution. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Jeff, I have also used saddle soap for years on new boots and never noticed a darkening of the leather. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | while also using mink oil?
I use saddle soap on my leather couches and chairs and it doesn't darken the surface appreciably, but i wouldn't use Mink oil as well...
I've had many pairs of hiking boots over the years that turned very dark using that combo... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
I've had many pairs of hiking boots over the years that turned very dark ... Reminds me of the story of why the elephant had 3 white but 1 yellow tennis shoe :rolleyes:
No, I used saddle soap only....no mink oil. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Slow native. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | or bad aim. |
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January 2006
Posts: 208
Location: Illinois | Originally posted by stephent28:
Reminds me of the story of why the elephant had 3 white but 1 yellow tennis shoe :rolleyes:
I s'pect it was a bull elephant. Though I didn't know a bull elephant could hike his leg up like that. :confused: Although, I s'pect if'n he can do his other business, this business shouldn't be much of a stretch. :eek: |
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May 2006
Posts: 25
Location: Long Island, NY | Originally posted by stephent28:
Or if taking it on and off the strap buttons was the only problem, trying adding dunlop strap locks. Stephen is correct. Get some strap locks and forget about softening the leather. |
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January 2006
Posts: 208
Location: Illinois | One old timey method is to soak it in horse urine for a day. (p.s. mares have better aim than stalions.) |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I'm told that Eskimos and native American tribes softened leather by having their women chew on it until the desired texture was achieved. Do your women-folk have good teeth? |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Yes, I have the scars to prove it. |
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Softening a leather guitar strap