Originally Posted by
pugboy
If you wet the leather, you will shorten its life. As for it turning to dust in about 20-30 years, I have never seen this phenomenon before. I still have my grandads brooks, ridden miles every day, for 50 plus years and is still very comfy and no dust in sight.
Proofhide should be treated in the same way shoe polish is. I have a very expensive pair of hand made shoes and they get polished every week and will last longer for it.
Marc.
Face it. You can't provide proof as using water to shape leather is a technique as old as time.
In fact Brooks use it to form your saddle and it does leach out the natural oils, that's why the saddle feels like wood when new.