Thread: Neatsfoot Oil Brand Brand?

I’m certain you can get quality neatsfoot oil at a tack shop.

Seems to me that the concept of "specific application" has evidence of support... depending on application and intended results.

I think I'd go with 100% pure for mine, with a finisher like Renwax. Especially if I don't know what is in the compound. Just my preference, probably affected because I usually lean toward natural products. On a leather forum some experienced guys suggested a finisher to help lock in the oils for extreme weather.
When applying that concept to scales, they don't get the same treatment e.g. harsh sun and wind, so maybe it's not a big factor.

Reading the other forums it seems as though this is a battle that rages on! Lol
To use or not, with chems or not, how much.. etc etc. with good arguments for all.

On another product that I used, that I think is related... Tung oil. I purchased 100% pure tung oil. It still had the "non-drying" element in it. Never fully dried yet gave a unique finish that I liked. But apples to oranges in regard to tru-oil which is more of a true varnish.
Both are good in their own ways.

Thank you for all of the information. These questions and considerations are always a work in progress for me and so always evolving techniques and understandings..

I really appreciate the perspective that is achieved by reading various opinions in various crafting traditions... allows us to "triangulate" on the concepts for better understanding!

Thanks again, I'm gonna see if I can track down some of those places you guys suggested.

Also, dang!!! You would not believe it but in the Charleston area there is NOT ONE woodworking supply shop! Man! I'm just shocked.
Cheers gents

Try some Ballistol instead!

Slawman

I've studied Neatsfoot Oil a lot.

I would definitely recommend 100% pure Neatsfoot. Within 100% pure Neatsfoot, there are different grades. Bickmore Neatsfoot is the very highest grade.

I work with leather professionally and consider Bickmore Neatsfoot the absolute very best treatment for leather. The only time I don't use it is if I don't want the leather to darken. In that case, I Bickmore's Bick 4.

Interestingly, Neetsfoot Oil is nothing more than tallow from a certain part of the cow. It comes from the skinny part of the leg bones, excluding the hoof. A big advantage is that it is liquid at room temp, unlike regular tallow. It also has other benefits. Cows don't have that much hair and very little fat on their legs, so they have adapted over time and the Neetsfoot is part of that.

They use the high grade neetsfoot in metal working industries.