Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

soaking Shinki horsehide in water

Americanaaa Mark

A-List Customer
Messages
443
So yeah...

I know this leather is coveted by some so they may advise again this but how does it hold up if you want to do a wet break in?

I've done this before with Aero FQHH and it came out completely fine and really sped up the break in process. That leather would of taken a year if not more to break in.

Shinki is soft but I'm impatient. Does this leather do fine with a 45 minute soak in warm water, then worn dry with a long sleeve tshirt on underneath?

I'll post pictures of my before and after results
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
Dunno. Me and another guy with Skinki jackets merely got them wet and they did a bit of a shrink. Unless you have some room to give up, I'd be cautious.

Cue: Guys who say leather doesn't shrink...
 
Messages
10,977
Location
SoCal
Short answer: It'll be fine, BUT it will look more "rumpled" which might account for the shrink. These pieces have been soaked.
YX1nz6y.jpg
 
Last edited:
Messages
16,402
Yeah, definitely not a good idea with veg tanned leather. One jacket that I had soaked ended up much stiffer once it dried up. And it shrunk a good size and a half as well. Don't know what it was, though. It's not smart to mess with leather that way as the result could go either way. Not worth the risk. Tumbler and tennis balls is where it's at.
 

CBI

One Too Many
Messages
1,415
Location
USA
done this with Shinki MANY times. Looks great, makes it a bit stiffer, it will shrink. If you do the dryer, it will shrink a lot. Not as much this time of year outside. Once its a bit less soaked, wear it for a number hours and it will break in really well.
 

bretron

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,518
Location
NW
I've done both HWT for shrinkage and cold water soak/wear-wet-till-dry for stretching on Shinki GW jackets. you gotta be careful especially with the hot stuff, and ESPECIALLY if you're going to use a dryer to dry it. Also you'll risk overly excessive drying/graining in certain areas (with the HWT).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alz

Americanaaa Mark

A-List Customer
Messages
443
I wouldn't put my jacket through a dryer

I planned to do a luke warm soak for about 45 minutes, pad dry the lining and then wear it dry, not over stretching it or anything.

Seems kinda split on this. I'll think it over but I'm leaning towards YES
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,711
Location
East Java
do it, and post the pictures :)
people on other forum washed their battered lamb jackets in washing machine and dryer, I think any horsehide will do luke warm soak just fine.
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,418
Location
Glasgow
Once wore my shinki jacket in a very hot shower. Gave it hell of soaking, especially the arms, and then wore it around the house for the evening. Overall, it made the grain pop and a little bit shorter - though tbh that would have come with wear. I would just wear the damn thing hard and be done with it!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,023
Messages
3,026,582
Members
52,528
Latest member
Zonko
Top