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Post by timewatcher on Oct 27, 2014 13:23:01 GMT -8
I have a 6mm thick in-coming leather band that I know is going to be stiff so I'd like to know what I can do before putting it on the watch to make it more supple/soft and buttery feeling?
The band is Black with red stitching and is "oil tanned".
I know that by wearing it that it will become softer but I'd like to perhaps speed up the process!
Any tricks you guys use?
TIA
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Post by Groundhog66 on Oct 27, 2014 14:15:24 GMT -8
Not much you can do really, I tried a couple things with my Di-Modell Chronissimo (manually working it, putting it on wet), and it stayed pretty much the same. Wearing it in, is the only sure thing I'm afraid...good luck.
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Post by philsinclair on Oct 27, 2014 14:37:53 GMT -8
Hi. 6mm is excessive for a watch strap, I have a Red12 at 4mm and would say it is very very thick. It may not get to be soft at that thickness.A few whacks with a meat tenderizing hammer maybe.Cheers Phil
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mar52
Timekeeper
Posts: 873 
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Post by mar52 on Oct 27, 2014 14:56:13 GMT -8
Remove the buckle, get it wet and run it through a pasta machine a few times.  |
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327 
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Oct 27, 2014 14:58:25 GMT -8
Depending on the finish, there isn't heaps you can do.
I've had some success with using "saddle oil" on smooth leather, but any sort of rough finish will get stained and ruined by doing that. That said, it's only going to soften it a shade, you won't get much out of it.
The stuff I use is "EFFAX LEDER OL", it's made in Austria and sold at the saddle stores here.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 15:16:29 GMT -8
pee on it... trust me!
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Post by timewatcher on Oct 27, 2014 15:55:14 GMT -8
Hi. 6mm is excessive for a watch strap, I have a Red12 at 4mm and would say it is very very thick. It may not get to be soft at that thickness.A few whacks with a meat tenderizing hammer maybe.Cheers Phil Not for this its not! Head is 14mm thick and weighs 145 grams. |
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trandy
Needs a Life!
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Post by trandy on Oct 27, 2014 17:12:23 GMT -8
Try Mink Oil....it's a paste...comes in a can like shoe polish....several applications will soften it and also make it water resistant.
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mikeyt
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Krusty Olde Pharte
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Post by mikeyt on Oct 27, 2014 17:17:57 GMT -8
If you're sure of the water resistance of the watch, wear it in the shower with the strap on it, then leave it on your wrist until it's thoroughly dry. It may take two or three times depending on the strap.
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Post by bobbymike on Oct 27, 2014 17:39:33 GMT -8
Lexol leather conditioner is a great product (as is their cleaner). If you saturate the band and work it (bend it and roll it) you can soften it up. You basically need to break down some of the fibers in the leather to get it to flex more easily. If you do this with water make sure that you follow it up with a good conditioner like Lexol. Oils are good, but they can substantially darken leather.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 18:54:49 GMT -8
I've had good success with hand lotions that have lanolin in them...just stay away from the perfumed ones.
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Post by bobbymike on Oct 27, 2014 19:41:28 GMT -8
Makes sense Pete, leather is just like our skin. Lotions and conditioners are merely ways to replenish the natural oils that either dry out (from our skin) or are removed from leather products (because they cause rot).
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Post by Groundhog66 on Oct 27, 2014 19:48:24 GMT -8
Not sure lotions or oils, will help on a strap that thick, but who knows.
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Post by timewatcher on Oct 27, 2014 20:33:19 GMT -8
I'm not 100% positive the strap is 6mm thick as that does sound pretty thick to me but on her website it does state it to be about 6mm thick!
I guess I'll just have to wait and see when it comes in.
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Post by mwbuss8 on Oct 27, 2014 22:06:12 GMT -8
It somewhat depends on the color of the strap and how much you care about maintaining that color. As said above, mink oil is a great product. I always used it to break in and Then maintain my baseball gloves. I could break in a new glove in about 1/4 the time of any teammates in college because of it. If I'm remembering correctly, Wilson (I think Wilson anyway) also makes a product you spray on Then bake. I never used it because I always had a rawlings glove and heard they use a different kind of padding that wouldn't do so well in the oven. I know guys that swear by it like I do with mink oil though. I'd think the heat would help it penetrate better assuming the strap is completely leather.
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sdoocms
Is a Permanent Fixture
Carl
Posts: 5,296
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Post by sdoocms on Oct 28, 2014 5:11:22 GMT -8
Saddle soap.
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Oct 28, 2014 5:25:07 GMT -8
It somewhat depends on the color of the strap and how much you care about maintaining that color. As said above, mink oil is a great product. I always used it to break in and Then maintain my baseball gloves. I could break in a new glove in about 1/4 the time of any teammates in college because of it. If I'm remembering correctly, Wilson (I think Wilson anyway) also makes a product you spray on Then bake. I never used it because I always had a rawlings glove and heard they use a different kind of padding that wouldn't do so well in the oven. I know guys that swear by it like I do with mink oil though. I'd think the heat would help it penetrate better assuming the strap is completely leather. When I was a kid, we used neatsfoot oil to soften our gloves. |
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dasher
Timekeeper
Waiting on 6:00 pm
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Post by dasher on Oct 28, 2014 5:33:44 GMT -8
When I was a kid, we used neatsfoot oil to soften our gloves. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exactly what I was going to write! Baseball gloves, that is!! Dan |
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Post by timewatcher on Oct 28, 2014 11:01:33 GMT -8
Remove the buckle, get it wet and run it through a pasta machine a few times. Either that or take a meat smasher to it!  |
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Post by seemonkey on Oct 28, 2014 11:13:25 GMT -8
I had leather on a dive watch and got it wet many times. The leather did not like that. It actually became harder and dried out. I would keep it away from the water unless you put some protective oil on it.
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