[TheForge] Restoring bellows leather

[lama]

"How To Make A Blacksmiths Bellows"
by Bob Heath
http://lametalsmiths.org/news/classifieds.htm


dave m



----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Brown" <quahog@tds.net>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 9:53 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Restoring bellows leather


> At 13:18 03/09/03 +1030, you wrote:
> >I have a large bellows in need of some TLC and I guess linseed oil is the
> >thing to treat the leather with, is this right? do I need to dilute it at
> >all to help it soak in? The leather is pretty dryed up.
>
> If the leather is old and dried up there may be no help for it if it's to
> be put into service.  But whatever you do, don't use linseed oil ... it
> hardens (catalytic reaction on exposure to oxygen in the air).  If you
> think it's dryed up and hard now, it'll be much harder when the linseed
oil
> hardens.
>
> You'll be better off treating it with some neat's foot oil, mink oil, or
> some other leather conditioner.
>
>
> Dave Brown
> Heritage Smithing
> Green Bay, WI
> ABANA, UMBA, GoM, MODA, ARG
>
> _______________________________________________