Thread: Neatsfoot Oil substitute

I arrived at this topic on anther thread but thought i might continue it here. I have read that Neatsfoot Oil can be used for conditioning strops as well as for rubbing into areas which have been repaired, and also for rubbing into bone scales for a bit of rejuvination (which is how the topic came up in the workshop forum).
Anyway, a cant find it anywhere in Australia. do any of you guys know of a cheap readily available substitute i can use?
Thanks
Grant

Jojoba oil should be good.
It also softens things very good
and it never gets rancid. (cause technically its a wax)

You could get some beef fat, render it down and then add some mineral oil and use that. Also what Olivia said would be good too.

Turbine the smell of tallow gone bad or not rendered correctly can drive you mad.
The slightest leftover of any proteine substance in it and you can count on it.

It's sold by a lot of tack/horse places, eg. here - google equine supplies or tack shop and you might find one near you.

Regards,
Neil

Baldy,

Neatsfoot is certainly available in Australia (I bought a litre of it only a few months ago). I am not sure how it would go shipping in the post, but I would be happy to send you some if you cannot find it more locally.

However, if I were you I would go for a pleasant drive 20 minutes southwest and talk to the nice gentlemen at Awl Leather in Bellingen (at the old Butter factory). They are very helpful guys and if anyone in the area would know where to get neatsfoot, they would.

Good luck,

James.

Originally Posted by 0livia

Turbine the smell of tallow gone bad or not rendered correctly can drive you mad.
The slightest leftover of any proteine substance in it and you can count on it.

You really need to make sure that all the protein or meat is off the fat before you start and also use some water in the pot and render at a low temp. Tallow is in all leather conditioner as well as synthetic fats (tri-gycerides)

Thanks to all, and thanks Jimbo, I'll probably be going out that way soon so i"ll definately drop in.
Cheers
Grant

Originally Posted by 0livia

Jojoba oil should be good.
It also softens things very good
and it never gets rancid. (cause technically its a wax)

Thanks for the tip Olivia. I love using jojoba as a skincare product and never considered using it as a strop conditioner.

I had the same problem trying 2 find it in the UK, as I needed it to restore horn scales on an old W&B (see post in workshop).

I searched all the local leather places, timber suppliers etc within a 30 mile radius or so and had no luck. Then I was recommended a horse accessories store - it turned out an old farm estate place a mile and a half away had it in stock! A 2 minute drive and I had a 500ml tin of the stuff! They use it to rejuvinate saddles.

They were most surprised for my intentions with the oil - they asked as I dont look like a horse enthusiast.

But there it was right under my nose. I had been looking in the wrong places. So any horse riding accessory place will have some, or if u know anyone with a horse, theyl probably have it!