Thread: Oak fanned English shell, Adrian, Michigan

Rinse the heck out of the linen and you can either clamp a weight to it while hanging it to dry or lay it flat between to boards and put about 8 cases on it instead of just a cold pack. The bleach in those pads may have taken some of the dye out of the leather but it doesn't look bad. You have dried it even more though so a good conditioner is a must. Saddle soap is okay if you get the kind with no wax in it. That shell should be smooth as a babies butt and wax will add more draw than you will care for. Sharpton's conditioners are great I use a different brand but basically you want a glycerin with leather conditioners in it. This will work for regular maintenance also.
To much oil in leather is as bad as to dry. Water sealed into leather by wax is a disaster. Leather is skin and so it should feel soft a supple like a pair of ( use your own imagination here ) :<0)

No... I was thinking " a purdy ladies hands" !

Ok ill 're rinse it and stack the weight on it. The leather even now is like glass! I tried it even though I new it would not be as it should and it was slicker than snot! Thanks so much for the advice now just to get me time

If you put the right conditioner on it it should stay slick and get more supple. Supple you might not notice now if you got it wet but it will keep it that way.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

If you put the right conditioner on it it should stay slick and get more supple. Supple you might not notice now if you got it wet but it will keep it that way.

I did get it damp, not wet by any means. Rang most all the water out when wiping it clean. I am excited to see what its like after conditioner.

Following this to see how things turn out. Addison should be a great help with info and my wife is from Adrian so this is kinda cool

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

I did get it damp, not wet by any means. Rang most all the water out when wiping it clean. I am excited to see what its like after conditioner.

Remember! A little at a time after an initial application.
My boar strops took only two applications.

yes Addison was trying to help me get some info and has given me a contact to try. Now on my day off I will be able to put that feeler out im pretty excited to get the conditioner going and see what she changes in to thanks Dave.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Remember! A little at a time after an initial application.
My boar strops too only two applications.

Ill be tentative and take my time, thanks sharptonn

Ok so I 're washed my linen tonight, its currently sammiched in between paper towels with about 70 lbs of free weights on top. All the oxy clean is off it and hopefully after drying it will be flat and usable. Thanks for the help along the way gents.

I never had any trouble rinsing the Oxyclean out. Certainly not causing any scratching.

Some things I have learned about Linen, old and older. If you wash it, wash it gently and avoid bending it.
It stiffens as-wet. It will break if you bend it wet. Let it dry a few days!
You can get by with most anything, including a very hot steam-iron kept moving.
Rubbing with a smooth glass bottle makes the fibers behave. Some say to beat the strop with a clean wooden mallet. Breaking down the fibers and the stuff absorbed is key.

Like stropping your strop!