Dried-up Leather

[mark-b]

My Fed 2 came with the regulation FSU leather case. It's in great shape, except that the silica gel did a real good job of drying up the leather during storage.

Besides all of the specialized leather conditioners available in just about any store, is there anything already in most households that I can use to re-moisturize leather? Thanks 😀

 

[russianRF]

Actually, I'd ask you to stop right there and consider throwing the leather case out. Leather cases greatly increase the chance that your lens will grow fungus; the leather provides a dark, moist space.

I have a "genuine" FSU case that came with my Fed 5; it's one of the few items I own that I wish had come in vinyl instead of genuine leather.

 

[ZeissFan]

russianRF offers good advice.

However, if you want to have a case for it, even if you don't keep the camera in it, you could try either mink oil (comes in a shoe polish-type can, and it's more grease than oil). It's available at most drug stores or Kmart/Wal-Mart/Target stores.

Also, Neat's foot oil (is that the correct name?). We used to use it as kids on new baseball gloves.

 

[mark-b]

I didn't even think about that. Leather does trap moisture. Not a good idea, then, for long-term storage.

Will look for mink oil and neat's foot oil for my leather jacket instead! Thanks.

 

[Peter_Jones]

Neat's foot oil softens leather - great for dried or even new stiff leather, if your jacket is a motorcycling jacket I wouldn't use it on that, but for camera cases, bicycle saddles (Brooks etc) and indeed baseball gloves it's fine.

 

[Sparrow]

untreated petroleum jelly, best thing since sliced bread! but dno't get any on any rubber parts

 

[mark-b]

petroleum jelly; now that i have! thanks Sparrow 🙂
And thanks Peter for the neats foot tip!

 

[gm13]

I found this on a link somewhere here. nothing but lanolin or "pecards" should touch old leather, so this guy says, probably knows better than I.

Rules for treatment of leather:

*

Never apply any leather restoring agents other than Pecard's Antique Leather Restorer® or Lanolin® (only one dressing is needed, not both)
*

Never apply any leather restoring agents to leather that is already soft, supple, and in good condition. No treatment is necessary and the leather should be left as found.
*

 

[oftheherd]

I have something called LexolNF that I have had for years. I use it spareingly and it seems to protect well. I think it keeps water out, as would mink old. I think properly treated leather will not collect enough moisture to promote fungus. I least it never has for me.

 

[thetooth]

you could use mineral oil also . i would not use this on fine leather , but tough camera case leather it should work fine . just make sure it's mineral oil not some vegetable based oil .