Oily holster and belt

[BigBlue 94]

Got a new holster and belt for my 44mag Virginia Dragoon. Belt is a Hunter 1089 and the holster is one of their cross draw style. Both top grain leather. They are so heavily oiled that it coats my hands after handling.

Whats the best way to get rid of some of the excess oil? Bake it like a baseball glove? Wipe it off? Bury it in oil-dri?(kidding!)

Used to bake a baseball glove with a ball in it to help break it in. Whats the best way to get the holster to start breaking in? Besides continual use obviously!

 

[Dunross]

Wrap it tight in absorbent paper like newsprint (unprinted). Set in a warm location for a few days. May have to repeat that a few times depending on how bad it is.

 

[Stophel]

Leather needs a little oil, but it shouldn't be dripping with it. I know how Hunter absolutely soaks their products with oil.

You can put them in a big bucket of water. A good amount of the oil will float out of it. Of course, probably not as much as you want out.

Yes, you actually can pack it in an oil-dry stuff, and let that soak it out.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Hmm. Well ive got it wrapped and stuffed with paper towels right now. Its getting shoved into service tomorrow regardless lol.

It is literally nearly dripping with oil. Better than bone dry though i suppose!

Would washing it in soap and water work at all?

 

[John Joseph]

Hmm. Well ive got it wrapped and stuffed with paper towels right now. Its getting shoved into service tomorrow regardless lol.

It is literally nearly dripping with oil. Better than bone dry though i suppose!

Would washing it in soap and water work at all?

Saddle soap is your friend, NOT glycerin. Saddle soap. Fiebing's is good
Scrub well!

 

[BigBlue 94]

And of course our saddle n tack store went out of business! I bet the farm and home has some saddle soap though or maybe tractor supply.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Saddle soap is your friend, NOT glycerin. Saddle soap. Fiebing's is good

^^^ This ^^^

They probably dipped the holster and belt,,,
Clean it with the saddle soap,,,
It may take a few times.

Do Not "bake" the holster,,,
I've been working leather professionally for 40 years,,,
Honestly, I can't think of a faster way to ruin a good gunbelt & holster.

Aarond

.

 

[BigBlue 94]

^^^ This ^^^

They probably dipped the holster and belt,,,
Clean it with the saddle soap,,,
It may take a few times.

Do Not "bake" the holster,,,
I've been working leather professionally for 40 years,,,
Honestly, I can't think of a faster way to ruin a good gunbelt & holster.

Aarond

.

Saddle soap it is then! Yeah it seems like they just had a big vat of oil and all the leather was just bathing in it lol.

Since you are a leather worker, ill ask another question. Is there any way to make an untanned snakeskin pliable again? There is even some 7 year old dried flesh on it still. Was a big timber rattler that the car in front of me ran over.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Is there any way to make an untanned snakeskin pliable again?

Honestly, I haven't a clue.

Tandy leather used to market a product called Rep-Tan,,,
But it is probably too late for that

If it were mine I would simply drop it in a bucket of water,,,
That should make it pliable again for a short while.

BUT,,, It could also turn it to mush.

If it softens out then you could pin it to a board and let it dry,,,
Then scrape the flesh off if it.

Then rub a sparse (very sparse) coat of neatsfoot oil on it,,,
Repeat until it becomes pliable.

I really don't have much experience with snake/reptile skin,,,
So this advice is just what I would try if it were mine.

Aarond

.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I had it stretched out for awhile originally, but then idk what happened. Its a beauty, at about 40" long and 4+" wide with much of the belly skin curled up underneath. Too bad it only had two rattle sections left!

I bought some of the fiebings saddle soap pictured above at lunch today so ill try that tonight.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[BigBlue 94]

Forgot to wrap this up...

The saddle soap worked wonders. I did just one liberal application, and a bunch of orange dyed oil came out. Left the leather nice and hydrated still, but didn't leave my hands glistening with oil.