doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What's Best Way to clean up leather case exterior

I have a Westley Richards oak and leather case that is nicked up and has some dark stains on the surface, even some paint. What is the best way to clean it up. Can it be lightly sanded and the surface then polished somehow?

LD1:
Here's what I do. First do NOT "sand" the case! It's old leather and you'd destroy it. Try to clean off the paint with a solvent: Paint thinner or lacquer thinner used sparingly and with much caution. If some spots remain, try a gentle scraping with a DULL knife. You can't do much about the stains -- but they add character in a way. With the paint off, scrub the exterior with saddle soap. Let dry 24 hrs. Then judge the hue of your leather and get Fiebing's leather dye at a shoe shop -- light or medium brown as you need. Apply this to the WHOLE case, moving quickly and with a modest amount of dye on a folded cloth -- NOT the dauber in the kit. Pay special attention to the chips. Wait 24 hrs. Next, rub in all the Pecard leather prep (in a tub) the surface will absorb -- follow their directions. Polish with a soft cloth and you'll love the result.

Best, Kensal

Kensal,
I went to the Picards website and could not find any product containing the word "prep". Could you be more specific?
Phil

Phil:
Apologies. That's just my term. I'm referring to the wax-coloured Pecard dressing they sell in a tub. It comes plain and a colour element added. I have both, but mostly use the plain. Here's the link at Pecard:

http://www.pecard.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?S...Code=leathdress

Best, Kensal

I used Picards leather preservative for years on my boots and cases. When the last tub ran out, on the recommendation of the Russell boot folks I bought Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP (Leather Preservative) instead. Both do wonders for leather and are good products.

Another good leather restoration product available through Tandy Leather named Aussie Leather Conditioner and mfgr'd by Fiebing Co - www.fiebing.com. This product contains beeswax and has the consistancy of vasoline out of the jar.

Rub the product on the leather and let soak in/dry over night then rub off with a soft cloth. I'm now restoring an old Leg-O-Mutton case for a customer and currently have three applications of this product on the LOM case. You'll never bring the leather back 100% to new; however, this product does a very nice job with leather restoration.

Before you re dye the leather, you must de-glaze it. This will remove any glaze and wax from the leather surface applied when it was made. If you do not do this, the leather will take the dye unevenly and will end up blotchy. Saddle soap will not remove most glazes and waxes. Tandy sells a good de-glazing product.

I've had good results using the sort of leather cleaners sold in Auto shops for cleaning leather car seats. One brand that I use is called Decasol but I don't know if it is available in the States. I just paint it on with a brush, leave for ten minutes then wipe off, allow to dry and then use a saddle cream polish called Stubenhamenol which is made in Germany. Leaves a great finish without destroying the patina. Lagopus.....

Thanks, Kensal.