Proper Leather Conditioning? Interesting.

[Roku35]

Surfing the net trying to learn more about conditioning leather seats. I came across an interesting read regarding "neatsfoot oil". Specifically, what is the differences in using leather conditioners vs neatsfoot oil products. This is just an excerpt taken that made me want to read more...

Neat is an archaic name for hooved animals (i.e. cows, pigs, sheep). Neatsfoot oil is oil rendered from the feet of cattle or hooved animals. In the slaughterhouse, the feet would be cut off the animal, split, put into a large vat and boiled. The oils that rose to the top would be skimmed off and sold as "Neatsfoot Oil." Today, thanks to the US military, there is no actual Neatsfoot oil in Neatsfoot Oil! Let me explain. Back in the 1930's the US Army wrote a Military Specification (Mil Spec) that defined the properties of Neatsfoot Oil. Oil merchants bidding for government contracts quickly discovered other, less expensive, oils would meet this Mil Spec. Today, Neatsfoot Oil is any oil, regardless of where it comes from, that meets this US Government Mil Spec. Neatsfoot Oil now is mostly derived from pigs. Lard is pressed and the resulting liquid, which can be supplemented with mineral oil and/or reclaimed motor oil, is sold as "Neatsfoot Oil". Neatsfoot oil is widely used in the equestrian industry (saddles and tack) but has no advantage in conditioning the finished leathers found in automobiles.

The rest of the link is here.

http://classic-motoring.stores.yahoo.net/leclcoex.html

Apparently this is a Q&A with Summit Industries, Inc. (Giant in Leather Care industry).

[CW6er]

Very Interesting.

I guess I will stick with the Lexol or Leatherique cleaners/conditioners

[Trevor M]

I've used Mink Oil with good results. You can buy it anywhere they sell shoes or boots...big box stores like Wal-something or other.

[HayekFan]

My question about leather conditioning products is whether they actually penetrate into the leather or just stay on the surface. I can see where they would work on a saddle or something where the actual face of the leather is exposed - but with car upholstry it seems like they'd have a hard time getting through the paint/dye layer and into the leather itself. Does it actually soak in?

Also, is the basic problem with degraded leather that it's lost its fatty oils somehow? Or is it that the protein structure has broken down? If the problem is proteins, not oils, then those conditioners aren't doing squat (it would seem).

I sometimes suspect the leather conditioner industry plays old car buffs the way the wrinkle cream industry plays women. On the other hand, this 6er is the first car I've had with leather and I haven't tried any of these products on it. Maybe there's something to it, but I'm skeptical.

[JayM]

I only use neatsfoot on my buffalo leather interior. The leather is porous, and the natural oils quickly evaporate and it dries out and fades. Neatsfoot is a natural replacement.

For my cars with the more normal leather (which has a "sealed" surface) I use Leatherique. The neatsfoot doesn't penetrate as well, and I've found that the Leatherique "Rejuvenator Oil" really softens stiff, cardboard-like dyed leather. It's not the only product out there, but it's the only one I've used and I'm happy with it.

Here's aonther quote from the website linked above:
-------------
It comes down to personal preference. Both products arrive at the same end result using a different path. The advantage of Lexol NF Neatsfoot Oil is in the equestrian market on, say a blond, unfinished, natural saddle. Lexol Leather Conditioner over time, will darken unfinished leathers about half a shade. NF Neatsfoot Oil will maintain the natural color of unfinished leathers indefinitely. The leathers used in the automotive industry are "finished". There is no advantage or disadvantage of one product over the other.
--------------

Buffalo leather is "unfinished" so the neatsfoot has some advantage in that it will maintain the oils, and the colour (more or less) of the leather. Is it the best product out there? I can't say 100%, but I found the Leatherique Rejuvenator darkend my Buffalo hide much more than I wanted, compared to the Lexol NF (I use the stuff for lighter coloured leather). Sorry, I don't have pics of the difference at the moment.

[Layne]

The buffalo leather is not unfinished. He's talking about un-dyed leather which is about the color of an average white person's skin. Thats not to say you are wrong about the use of NF on the buffalo, it probably works well. The thing that concerns me is when he said that NF it may have motor oil in it, thats terrible for leather.

[JayM]

The buffalo leather is not unfinished. He's talking about un-dyed leather which is about the color of an average white person's skin. Thats not to say you are wrong about the use of NF on the buffalo, it probably works well. The thing that concerns me is when he said that NF it may have motor oil in it, thats terrible for leather.

My bad on the terminology. In any case NF works well with the porous leather of Buffalo. Whe they speak of "finished" in the context above, I think they mean the smooth dyed and sealed leather normally seen in car upholstery.

Yes, in theory NF could be made with Mobile 1 if it meets the MilSpec, but reputable sources, like Lexol, use the proper products as far as I know. If they were putting motor oil in it I think there would be some lashback from the cowboy market, if not the auto upholstery market. Just be careful which brand of NF you buy.