Originally Posted by
stevebiker
Any leather product will benefit from an initial treatment with 100% pure Neatsfoot oil. It will preserve and condition the leather.
But be careful! Use only 100% pure neatsfoot oil. There are some "neatsfoot oil" products that are impure, and they actuall will damage the leather. Here's a blurb from Wikipedia, which reiterates the warnings elsewhere:
GOOD -- "Modern neatsfoot oil is still made from cattle-based products, but now, while retaining its historic name, usually is made mostly from lard,[SUP][/SUP] which is sold as pure neatsfoot oil. This formulation does darken leather."
BAAAAD -- "[SUP][/SUP]If mineral oil or other petroleum-based material is added, the product may be called "neatsfoot oil compound." Some brands have also been shown to be adulterated with rapseed oil, soya oil, and other oils.[SUP][/SUP] The addition of mineral oils may lead to more rapid decay of non-synthetic stitching or speed breakdown of the leather itself.
Using Neatsfoot oil of any kind is a bad idea, being organic they all encourage mould. If you do want to waterproof and slightly soften the leather then use "Hydrophane" which is used by Saddlers for preparing the butts of leather before working on them. Be careful and do not use too much as this will over-soften and use only on the under-side. If used on a new saddle then the forming of the saddle will not take place as the creation of indents is achieved by the sit-bones breaking the dry leather fibres. However if the new saddle is saturated with water, the indents can be now easily created with ones thumb in the now-soft leather. Leave to dry for twelve hours and it will be as hard as before .