Help Please. I have some antique bellows that have been stood for a while and the leather is starting to harden, before I attempt to try them I would like to soften the leather to help stop it cracking.

In the past I have used neatsfoot oil on leather to keep it soft (it appears the Neats are a dying breed as I am having difficulty finding any !)

All suggestions welcome, anyone used WD40? it seems useful for all kinds of things

try mcmaster carr

Mike Tanner

Wd 40 Is Designed To Dry Stuff Out; Do Not Use On Leather!
Any Feed Store Or Horse Store Should Have Neatsfoot Oil.

Olive oil will work in lieu of neatsfoot - but you should be able to get it at a leather products or saddlery store.

Thanks guys

try a shoe repair

saddle soap, mink oil, vasiline ...i have used all of these items on boots, baseball gloves, leather coats..or talk to a saddlery

i forgot that linseed oil is a main ingredient in some leather conditioners.

lard should work in a pinch. Kept the live animal's skin supple ;)

tandy sells a product called dr jaxsons hide rejuvenator ime gona try on my portable bellows..

Lanolin works.

Frosty

I've always liked a product called Bee-Natural. Beeswax based and they have a great distressed leather re-conditioner that's great.

I've been using it on my horse tack for years and it's held up really well

if annything eslse fails, use womens day cream (facial moisturisng cream), its not cheap, but works wonders

Saddle Soap ( good scrub ) followed by drying ( naturally ) and then Red Wing Boot Oil is good way to preserve leather.