Treating leather straps?

[mayberry]

Does anyone have a favourite recipe/technique for renewing old, slightly cracked leather straps, as you might find on an old MOD tank? My plan is to re-dye them with Fiebings, and then polish them with a wax polish. Any other suggestions?
Cheers,
John

[Tartan Hiker]

The leather needs to be renourished. After you dye, apply a couple of thin coats of neatsfoot oil to the dyed side (not the rough side). Allow it to soak in for at least a day before applying your finish. Don't overdo the oil...just wet a small cloth and wipe it on until the surface is wet, then let that soak in...do that twice and then stop, even though it looks like it would love to drink up some more.

Of course, it may be better in the long run to just replace them, unless we're talking about an historically significant garment. Serious cracks that compromise the strength of the strap will not be repaired by oil or wax.

[Canuck]

hand lotion will work well and it's cheap! Just rub it into the leather

[Brian Boru]

John,
Your best bet is 100% neatsfoot oil, not the compound, if you are not looking to replace the straps, and like Tartan Hiker said, use just a little as a little goes a long way. You can also get a product from Tandy/ Leather Factory called Hide Rejuvinator (sp?) that will work on dry leather. Unless it is just surface cracking, the best thing to do is replace the straps with new leather.
As for dye, I would suggest Fiebing's Oil Dye for a professional finish.

Regards,

Brian Woodyard
Owner, Blue Dragon Leathers

[Carolina Kiltman]

There is also a polymer base treatment called LEXOL (tm) that has done well for me on a variety of leather bits and pieces. But I agree, replacing cracked straps is the safe way to go.

[Paul Henry]

I work with quality leather very often,it's part of my work, and would never use neatsfoot oil, try something more like a gentle hand lotion, it's just much more appropriate.

[Tartan Hiker]

I work with quality leather very often,it's part of my work, and would never use neatsfoot oil, try something more like a gentle hand lotion, it's just much more appropriate.

Why...?

[Paul Henry]

neatsfoot oil, is great for waterproofing and softening hard leathers, but that isn't really what is need on a strap attached to fine clothing. The is also that fact the neatsfoot oil on fine leathers will actually make the straps more brittle faster. Save the use of the oilfor heavy working leathers, saddlery and the like, for that it's fine, but in truth it is a little "heavy duty" fro nice clothing leathers