whitecat
Lone Range(find)er
Anyone try to add a gleam and a shine to older camera cases? I have some in good shape and want to just add a little life to them.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Restoring Older Leather Camera Cases
- Thread starter whitecat
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John Robertson
Well-known
Just a really good quality shoe polish, not one of these instant shine types.and a lot of "elbow grease"
(Find some older person who was in the Army, he will know how to "bull" up leather)
There is really no short cut.
I've restored quite a few, including relining them and repairing the stiching.
Nice job for a dark winter evening!!
luketrash
Trying to find my range
How do you redo the stitching? It seems like it loops around inside the leather somehow and I can't figure out how to restitch my everready cases and Diamond case I have.
HarryW
Established
See the attached link:
http://www.stereoscopy.com/cameras/re-stitching.html
I used this method to re-stitch the case for my Weston Master V and it works fine.
All that you need to do is take your time and be patient and also source a good quality thread of the correct thickness and colour to match the existing case.
Regards
Harry
http://www.stereoscopy.com/cameras/re-stitching.html
I used this method to re-stitch the case for my Weston Master V and it works fine.
All that you need to do is take your time and be patient and also source a good quality thread of the correct thickness and colour to match the existing case.
Regards
Harry
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
I have tried neatsfoot which did wonders in the past on leather baseball gloves and is recommended on leather book bindings. However, on leather cases, it is only ok. Many of the leather cases are really vinyl which leather restoration substances will not work on.
charjohncarter
Veteran
I use mink oil and spread it all over the case (inside and out). I then let it sit for 24 hours, lightly buff. After that I use Lincoln Brown or Neutral Shoe polish for a higher shine.
oftheherd
Veteran
I have used a product called Lexol with some good results.
iamzip
Ambitious, but rubbish
I'm no expert, but I can tell you what I did with mine, which was mostly just dirty. First I cleaned it using Armor All leather wipes, then hit it with black Kiwi shoe polish. I think it came out pretty nice.
Windscale
Well-known
I would try not to use those leather cases at all especially in more humid times as they would trap moist air and give rise to moulds in lenses. Water resistant nylon cases are much better practically. I do not object to restoring them though because they are so good to look at.
OldNick
Well-known
Does anyone have a source of replacement leather straps for older Leica cases? My case is fine, and the strap is not riveted, so it would be simple to replace. The fifty-year old strap has a weak spot where it has flexed, and I am afraid to use the case.
Jim N.
Jim N.
leica M2 fan
Veteran
I've used mink oil on all my cases and straps, let the oil sink in for a while and buff lightly then apply a very light coat of Kiwi paste in the color you want. Buff it with a shoe shine rag and voila... a like new case.
Bill58
Native Texan
I think it was just a few weeks ago that this same subject came up and a link to these products were given: http://www.metaledgeinc.com/Products.tpl?cart=1029268892259644&id2=904&759; http://www.metaledgeinc.com/Product...SECTIONSdatarq=205&--SECTIONSword=ww&ran=1741.
Bill58
Native Texan
fidget
Lemon magnet
The good folks at your local horsey saddle shop seem to know a thing or two about leather goods (I wonder if they have leather evenings...hmmm....).
They sold me some leather balm which is intended to restore older dry leather. Got to feed it apparently......
Oh, and if the price is anything to go by, it should be really good.
They sold me some leather balm which is intended to restore older dry leather. Got to feed it apparently......
Oh, and if the price is anything to go by, it should be really good.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Two ways to do it, that I know of.
1. You use one of these.
You thread the thing, push it through the hole in the leather and pull it out. You will see a loop of thread sticking through the leather. You put a second piece of thread through the loop and pull the loop tight. Repeat a few hundred times. This gives you a simple lock stitch.
2. Another way, using a plain sewing needle, is to use a double saddle stitch. A double saddle stitch would look like a double sine wave if the leather was invisible. This one is going to be a lot harder to do and you will probably need a set of pliers to push the needle into the leather and pull it out the other side.
Last edited:
Film dino
David Chong
For cleaning I use saddle soap, e.g. see http://www.oakwoodusa.net/liquid-saddle-soap.htm , followed by ordinary shoe wax, as described earlier in the thread
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Instead of just assuming that everyone here knows what kind of case you have, how about telling us how wide is the strap? How long? What color? What kind of leather?
That said, latigo leather (oil treated cowhide) is what is used to make most belts and straps. Saddlery shops and ebay both sell it. For example, if you needed 1/4 inch wide latigo straps I could just point you at these: http://cgi.ebay.com/Latigo-Lace-1-4...6553650QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 http://cgi.ebay.com/Latigo-Lace-1-4...6553599QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
If it was 1/2 inch wide, or 5/8 inch wide I could point you to other specific places.
