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12-22-2005, 05:33 PM

I still stand by my original post. The lacquer sealers and pigment dyes used in automotive and upholstery leather do not allow these products to even come in contact with the leather. I say this with nearly 30 years experience working with leather; I'm not just pulling this info out my @$$, nor am I relying on what others say.

Keeping leather cleaned and worked will help maintain it even if the conditioners can't do their job. You'll notice that the back seats (in cars that have them) are the ones that get stiffest the quickest, and the driver's seat stays the most supple.

If the product cannot be absorbed by the leather, it doesn't do one bloody bit of good. And while that layer of lacquer is intact, the products CANNOT penetrate to the leather. You have to remove the "protective" sealer from the leather before these products will penetrate. I have done this on several sets of auto upholstery, from a 1965 Chrysler Imperial (with original leather), to a 1989 Maserati, to a 1995 Lincoln, to a 1993 VW Corrado.. Once you remove the sealer, the leather will absorb any of these products like a sponge. None of the sitting and waiting 24 hours BS...I'm talking the conditioners soak in within 30 SECONDS and don't leave anything behind to wipe up.

Most of these leather products are fine, providing they can be absorbed by the leather itself. They restore the natural oils that have been removed during the tanning process, and through use and time. The only one that I personally feel is a collossal waste of money is the Maguire's. In my experience, it didn't do anything.

Honestly, Pure Neatsfoot Oil is one of the best things for leather. (Not Neatsfoot COMPOUND) Why? "Neat" is an olde English word for "cow", and neatsfoot oil is basically oil from rendering of cow hooves, horns, skin, cartilege, and other leftover cow parts. So, using neatsfoot oil is restoring the same oil that was in the leather when it was a living, breathing animal.

Over the years, I have used Lexol, Lederbalsam, Leatherique, Hammanol, Hydrophane, Maguires (yuck), Connolly Hide Food/Hide Care, Carr Day & Martin Leather Balsam, Flexalan, Leather Therapy, Leather CPR...the list really goes on and on for the products I have tried. As long as they don't contain silicone or petroleum distillates, they are fine for your leather. Any products with either of those components should be avoided.

12-22-2005, 05:33 PM	#20
creseida Guest Posts: n/a	I still stand by my original post. The lacquer sealers and pigment dyes used in automotive and upholstery leather do not allow these products to even come in contact with the leather. I say this with nearly 30 years experience working with leather; I'm not just pulling this info out my @$$, nor am I relying on what others say. Keeping leather cleaned and worked will help maintain it even if the conditioners can't do their job. You'll notice that the back seats (in cars that have them) are the ones that get stiffest the quickest, and the driver's seat stays the most supple. If the product cannot be absorbed by the leather, it doesn't do one bloody bit of good. And while that layer of lacquer is intact, the products CANNOT penetrate to the leather. You have to remove the "protective" sealer from the leather before these products will penetrate. I have done this on several sets of auto upholstery, from a 1965 Chrysler Imperial (with original leather), to a 1989 Maserati, to a 1995 Lincoln, to a 1993 VW Corrado.. Once you remove the sealer, the leather will absorb any of these products like a sponge. None of the sitting and waiting 24 hours BS...I'm talking the conditioners soak in within 30 SECONDS and don't leave anything behind to wipe up. Most of these leather products are fine, providing they can be absorbed by the leather itself. They restore the natural oils that have been removed during the tanning process, and through use and time. The only one that I personally feel is a collossal waste of money is the Maguire's. In my experience, it didn't do anything. Honestly, Pure Neatsfoot Oil is one of the best things for leather. (Not Neatsfoot COMPOUND) Why? "Neat" is an olde English word for "cow", and neatsfoot oil is basically oil from rendering of cow hooves, horns, skin, cartilege, and other leftover cow parts. So, using neatsfoot oil is restoring the same oil that was in the leather when it was a living, breathing animal. Over the years, I have used Lexol, Lederbalsam, Leatherique, Hammanol, Hydrophane, Maguires (yuck), Connolly Hide Food/Hide Care, Carr Day & Martin Leather Balsam, Flexalan, Leather Therapy, Leather CPR...the list really goes on and on for the products I have tried. As long as they don't contain silicone or petroleum distillates, they are fine for your leather. Any products with either of those components should be avoided. Last edited by creseida; 12-22-2005 at 05:41 PM.