Western Saddle Making
Leather care question for western saddle.?
How do you condition a saddle made entirely from rough out?
The saddle in question is an old colt breaking saddle with huge bear trap swells. The problem is that it is entirely made from rough out. Jockeys, seat, leathers, everything. Suggestions on how to clean and condition it?
Did I mention that this is NOT a SMOOTH leather saddle, but a rough out?
The saddle in question is a vintage 1930's era marked Montezuma son saddle with huge bear trap swells, a metal horn and laced stirrup leathers.
The rough out saddles do present problems. To clean it you will need a BRASS bristled brush. Anything else will be too harsh. Using care not to cut any threads present, gently but firmly, brush up the nap of the suede. Short pulling strokes are better than long, continous ones. The ideal would be a clay ball rouged (no, I didn't mis-spell it) over the rough out surface and then brushed off.
An on-line search of indian crafts/mountainman/re-inactment/rendezvous craft suppliers will turn up the clay balls. They've been used for ages (literally) to clean leather garments.
To condition rough-out, take the hobbles off the fenders and remove the stirrups. Slide the fenders from under the bars until you can easily see the mark left by the bars.
Take a 60-40 solution (mix well!) of LEXOL Original (60%) and water(40%) and a clean small sponge. Working from the GRAIN side (not the flesh/rough-out side), with a circular motion, apply the Lexol mixture to the length of the leathers. Pay attention to the areas of rivets and the bend where the stirrups seat. Watch the absorption and reapply as needed.
When there is no more absorption, wipe it down with a soft dry cloth and do the other one. Now do the same process to the back/grain side of the fenders.
Forget the talcum powder, it only dries out the leather even more. Remember "the squeeking wheel gets the grease", it's dry, lubricate it.
If you want to continue further, you will have to dissasemble your saddle and I've no idea of your expertise/familiarity with saddle construction. Roughout can be conditioned/cleaned like any regular saddle if you know the steps.
You made it clear that it's roughout, you were less clear about it's age. Is there cracking or break lines on any of the grain side of the leathers or fenders? If there are, take a lot of caution using it. Once the top grain is broken, the leather is compromised and usage is not advised. NEVER bend or force dry old leather, it's the quickest way to ruin it.
O.K. Before you start to undo anything; Take that mixture and sponge and liberally apply to the leathers buckles, rivets area BEFORE you try to undo them. Work your way up to where the leathers cross the bars. With the saddle laying upside down, allow the solution to follow the leathers under the bars.
Of the age you say, I'm betting it's so dry, there will be little runoff. You can easily use more than a quart of Lexol. This project is not going to be instant gratification. Presumably you're not going to be using this for more than a display?
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