I'll explain a few of mine if asked. There is so much lore and quasi-religious hooey about Brooks that explaining any number of these methods will ignite a firestorm of idiots offering their 'best and only' methods. I presume someone with one of these saddles has some of their own ideas on the matter as well by now.

My fav is the slow bake using proofhide. Soft and water resistant. YMMV.