Topic: Clean the leathers while waiting for spring - Helmet insects residues

[PeWe]

I refreshed my helmet too.
I usually clean the visor from insects before each ride.
Plus a little more.

Cleaned it yesterday. Plus polish-wax treatment. Look good again.

It would be nice with a wax (or teflon) sprayed on the helmet, visor and bike front to make dead insects to fall off much easier.

Some summer days the is air full of insects.

Now ready for a ride. Bikes need a quick clean and polish. Can be done in the garage.

[HondaMan]

The balm I used this time "Ekol leather balm" contains:
Wool grease/lanolin, mink oil, vaseline, beeswax.

I just went through another skin cancer surgery, and the #1 recommendation to help the wound heal is vaseline. If it's good for human skin, its probably good for cow skin.

Vaseline works wonders on big scars, too...

[grcamna2]

I've been looking around for shoe repair and leather work places,as I need repair work done.
I spoke with a county feed and tack store and asked about a leather worker.
A person inside recommended a local saddle maker which helped me with my repair.
I want to find a shoe repair place too.

The gentleman recommended this product for all leather,which feeds the leather;it really soaks in.

I just used it for the 1st time today on my dry leather tan walking shoes;it took the dry away nice.

[PeWe]

" feeds the leather; it really soaks in."

That must be how it should work. I used a thicker leather balm earlier when I focused on mostly mink oil.
It was white,  like thick grease. It did not soak in that well.
Might have been made for water protection of trail leather boots.

I found another jacket today that I have not used since late 2019. It got a mink oil massage the following winter or next. 
I think it was not dirty so it got no warm water cleaning before mink oil.

Jacket felt like dry leather with a sticky outside.
So I brought it into the shower room. Warm water sprayed so it became really wet. Leather soap and a sponge to clean it.
More warm water and back to my garage to give it more leather balm as my other jacket. Hot air to ensure it will melt into the seams.

Today it looks greasy.
I hope it will soak in as my other jacket and trousers did.

[PeWe]

The leathers have got all soaked in. No sticky surface. I have used a dry cloth to wipe small leftovers off.

The last jacket is of a cheaper model with not that good leather quality I have not used much.

It feels stiffer and dryer than my mostly used one.
Good quality jacket from an old bike leathers manufacturer.

My better leathers cost less at 50% off sale than the full priced cheap one

I need to use rhe cheaper one more often to hopefully soften it up.

[HondaMan]

Did any of the black color rub off onto your cloth?
My blue leather jacket lost ALL its color when a local cleaner cleaned it in 2001, and they had it retinted in another blue - so now it doesn't match the pants.
But, the pants are still in Honda's CB750 Blue-Green! The jacket looks 'cheap' in comparison.
I don't trust ANY of the local leather houses around here to try to re-tint my jacket, and have been afraid to clean it very well since they recolored it the last time. I did have a new inner liner installed in it, though!

[PeWe]

"Did any of the black color rub off onto your cloth?"
I have not seen any black leather paint on the cloths.

The leather trousers have faded a little here and there. Look like sun bleach patina.
I do not recall if I have used naphta on a cloth to clean them during the 10 years I have had them.

[dave500]

I get this leather stuff from a local hardware store cheap,looks like its made for Sir Winston Churchills personal couch?so thats ok by me,works as any slimy greasy stuff should,says it contains nutrients etc but i havent tried making a man shake using it,makes jackets n boots like new and very water proof.

[Oddjob]

Think outside the box Mark, find a nice big cow, paint it the right shade of blue, let it age a bit, re-tint and then kill the cow and have a nice new jacket made.  You eat well for a long time as well.


I'm joking of course before people start to say I advocate the killing of a cow for vanities sake.

[Kelly E]

If you eat the cow it's not for vanities sake. It's not wasting the hide from the meat you are going to eat.

[HondaMan]

Think outside the box Mark, find a nice big cow, paint it the right shade of blue, let it age a bit, re-tint and then kill the cow and have a nice new jacket made.  You eat well for a long time as well.


I'm joking of course before people start to say I advocate the killing of a cow for vanities sake.

Vanity, heck! I need a solid blue leather jacket!

[PeWe]

Think outside the box Mark, find a nice big cow, paint it the right shade of blue, let it age a bit, re-tint and then kill the cow and have a nice new jacket made.  You eat well for a long time as well.


I'm joking of course before people start to say I advocate the killing of a cow for vanities sake.

Vanity, heck! I need a solid blue leather jacket!

Re-tint the pants to match the jacket?
Or fix the jacket back to its original color.