Ultimate Leather Conditioner Comparison (on Reddit)

[JMax]

Looks great! What type of leather is this and who’s the jacket maker?

LW HH

 

[JonS1967]

LW HH

Ahh, LW. No wonder the leather looks so beautiful!

Based on your experience, would you have any concerns about treating an entire jacket with Leather Sheen? I’m a little nervous about doing something irreversible to my jacket.

 

[PeterRocco]

Just stumbled upon these fantastic, super informative posts on Reddit and figured no better place than TFL to share them. Don't forget to click on the imgur photo galleries for additional information.

Gotta add that all the observations on the conditioners that I personally have used are spot on. Lexol does nothing. Gotta get me some Obenauf's.

First comparison:
https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/cl4l2n
Second:
https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/d5ghp1
Third:
https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/comments/d92wbr

Hello
Thanks for sharing. From what I got out of it is Pecard does not really condition but protects. I use Pecard Black and Brown Motorcycle Tint Dressing and I really like the result. Just have to Waite more then 24 hours for it to absorb into the leather but afterwards after you, wipe it down your left with a nice sheen and the leather just feels much better. I use Bick 4 before I apply the Pecard Dressing. But I Also use Bick 4 on my Red Wing Heritage Boots and nothing else.

 

[JMax]

Ahh, LW. No wonder the leather looks so beautiful!

Based on your experience, would you have any concerns about treating an entire jacket with Leather Sheen? I’m a little nervous about doing something irreversible to my jacket.

Try a small section first. See if you like how it looks and feels.

 

[Monitor]

Hello
Thanks for sharing. From what I got out of it is Pecard does not really condition but protects. I use Pecard Black and Brown Motorcycle Tint Dressing and I really like the result. Just have to Waite more then 24 hours for it to absorb into the leather but afterwards after you, wipe it down your left with a nice sheen and the leather just feels much better. I use Bick 4 before I apply the Pecard Dressing. But I Also use Bick 4 on my Red Wing Heritage Boots and nothing else.

Think of leather as several layers of fishnets. The drier the net is, more friction the twine has to endure which ultimately leads to damage.

Lubricants reduce friction. Pecard leather conditioner is a petroleum derived grease or in other word, a lubricant, intended to reduce friction of leather fibers.

Pecard Weatherproof Dressing is a wax/acrylic based dye, intended to cover up/mask damage/abrasions that happened to the coating of the jacket.

You gotta know which to use and why. If your leather jacket isn't damaged, there's no point in using Pecard Weatherproof Dressing.

 

[dannyk]

Think of leather as several layers of fishnets. The drier the net is, more friction the twine has to endure which ultimately leads to damage.

Lubricants reduce friction. Pecard leather conditioner is a petroleum derived grease or in other word, a lubricant, intended to reduce friction of leather fibers.

Pecard Weatherproof Dressing is a wax/acrylic based dye, intended to cover up/mask damage/abrasions that happened to the coating of the jacket.

​

You gotta know which to use and why. If your leather jacket isn't damaged, there's no point in using Pecard Weatherproof Dressing.

Yup anything that says weatherproofing or sealing. You certainly can use on jackets and it won’t “hurt” them. But those are typically more for boots. For folks working in wet conditions, dealing with chemicals, sparks flying onto the boots constantly. It helps seal the moisture in and keep all that **** out from getting into the leather, or into the boot itself and getting you wet/hurt. If a jacket is super old, or the finish is completely gone then seal/proof away. Typically new jackets can go years without needing anything. In time they may need a light lubrication. Unless you’re in the sun A LOT, in the rain and snow a lot. Then every once in a while a gentle water wipe down or gentle soap and water. Dry completely, then thin layer of lubricant. I know you know this @Monitor but just putting it all out there for the future. Some new member may come across this post and find it useful.

 

[PeterRocco]

Think of leather as several layers of fishnets. The drier the net is, more friction the twine has to endure which ultimately leads to damage.

Lubricants reduce friction. Pecard leather conditioner is a petroleum derived grease or in other word, a lubricant, intended to reduce friction of leather fibers.

Pecard Weatherproof Dressing is a wax/acrylic based dye, intended to cover up/mask damage/abrasions that happened to the coating of the jacket.

You gotta know which to use and why. If your leather jacket isn't damaged, there's no point in using Pecard Weatherproof Dressing.

Hi. Thank You very nice write up.
I just saw Pecard Now makes a Pecard Cream. Description of product says if need more absorption into the leather use their Cream.

 

[Leather Walker]

I just received the Lexol cleaner & conditioner. I've been using Pecard for three years when I felt it was necessary, but I've read so many good things about Lexol that I decided to try its effects on my jackets.

 

[PeterRocco]

I just received the Lexol cleaner & conditioner. I've been using Pecard for three years when I felt it was necessary, but I've read so many good things about Lexol that I decided to try its effects on my jackets.

View attachment 702598

Why not just Use Bick 4.

 

[Worf]

Hmmmm.... anyone have any thoughts or experience on what to use with Capeskin? I'm the current owner/keeper of the Good Wear Capeskin A1 and the shoulders seem to be getting a little dry. Capeskin is a light leather sourced from the South African Cape Antelope IIRC. Since it's a rare jacket and an unusual leather I was wondering what conditioner (I would NEVER get it dirty) would be best to keep it moist.

Thanks in advance...

Worf

 

[photo2u]

Hmmmm.... anyone have any thoughts or experience on what to use with Capeskin? I'm the current owner/keeper of the Good Wear Capeskin A1 and the shoulders seem to be getting a little dry. Capeskin is a light leather sourced from the South African Cape Antelope IIRC. Since it's a rare jacket and an unusual leather I was wondering what conditioner (I would NEVER get it dirty) would be best to keep it moist.

Thanks in advance...

Worf

I have repaired several CapeSkin jackets before. Your jacket is a beautiful specimen. I believe that sometimes the leather gets dry at the shoulder area is because of the hanger used. If you are using a nice foam supported hanger, then the problem is the stress being put on the shoulders due to hanging situations. For conditioning, this is a very hard one due to the shade of that tan? Hide. The best conditioner I know is beef tallow. However, it sometimes changes the color of the lighter colored hides. Can you share images of the areas in question?

 

[TheHamPimp]

Why not just Use Bick 4.

I'm a Lexol guy also.

I've tried Pecards, and it was OK...I still use it on my cycle jackets or items that I want to slightly 'color', but if I have a jacket that I don't want to darken or 'coat' with anything, Lexol is the best I've found, and readily available at most auto stores. It's also what Schott recommends, which is a very solid endorsement.

 

[Bawheid]

I used this Montana leather wash then dressing today on my Eastman Luftwaffe horsehide jacket that has not been leather cleaned and conditioned before now. Time was due after a new YKK zipper a few weeks back.
The "wash" with the "Leather oil" was a relatively swift affair using this product and after just one hour in the sun it was time for the leather dressing. It soaked into the leather very quickly in some areas more than others, so many spots got a second coat then hung again in the sun for another hour. The final finish is even and has gone dull . I will let it set indoors overnight and buff it with a dry towel in the AM. We are getting a big storm to.orrow so the atmosphere is very humid tonight.

 

[Bawheid]

24 hours on and a vigorous buffing with a dry towel and the Eastman Luftwaffe is looking good. Just a hint of a shine and the leather treatment "mink oil" smell is minimising. I will hang it outside in the dry again for a few hours to try and shift the rest of the post treatment aroma. The jacket was sweet smelling enough before this, just a margin scruffy and dry in patches.
I will consider it revamped after some zipper lube on the 5 zippers.

 

[大馬伕]

In my world, all leather wears, ages, and patinas. The way it looks is supposed to change. My concern is preserving so that it doesn't crack. Keep it moisturized. Oil works fine for me. My leather jackets, pants, and boots get oil, and sometimes a little shoe polish.

 

[Bawheid]

Well the mink oil (AKA stink oil !) Proofed jacket is hanging for a few hours in the weak wintry sunshine. Gotta get the aroma reduced before it comes back into the house and the jacket roster.
It does look good and the smell is reducing.
In hindsight I could have used either of the other 2 leather treatments I posted earlier in this thread, but the leather was presenting as dry as, and the Montana mink oil was first to hand.
Time will tell

 

[大馬伕]

With a jacket, you can immediately tell that it's been oiled. The jacket is heavier.

 

[Bawheid]

Of course, by the weight of oil absorbed, less the % evaporation.

I may wear this out today, we have mixed weather, 4C minimum and 16C top by 2pm.

Showers off and on so that will test the Montana Mink oil

PS what oil do you use ?

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

In my world, all leather wears, ages, and patinas. The way it looks is supposed to change. My concern is preserving so that it doesn't crack. Keep it moisturized. Oil works fine for me. My leather jackets, pants, and boots get oil, and sometimes a little shoe polish.

Do you put shoe polish on your jackets? I have wondered about that.

 

[Bawheid]

I have used "Kids scuff stuff" liquid shoe scuff "repairer" to good effect many times over the years.

Photo shown earlier in the thread, ( page 9) available in Australia widely in supermarkets, black and brown.

Just have to be careful for a while that it don't transfer to car seats and the like !

You'd be "Mr Popular" then !!