Elephant leather maintenance

[VertigoBE]

Hello AH friends and experts,

I have had made a few gunbags, belts and a pair of Courteney's out of elephant leather. In grey coloration of course.

The question is, how do I maintain this leather? With any old cow leather, I would just get some grease of some sort to rub it in, but if often stains the leather a bit. Which is fine for the dark brown coloured cow/buffalo leather, but less interesting for the lighter coloured elephant leather.

What do you use for products to keep the leather in tip top shape? Especially for the hard wearing boots (I just brushed of the dust so far) and gun bags.

Looking forward to hear what the experts say

Cheers,

V.

 

[HankBuck]

Hello AH friends and experts,

I have had made a few gunbags, belts and a pair of Courteney's out of elephant leather. In grey coloration of course.

The question is, how do I maintain this leather? With any old cow leather, I would just get some grease of some sort to rub it in, but if often stains the leather a bit. Which is fine for the dark brown coloured cow/buffalo leather, but less interesting for the lighter coloured elephant leather.

What do you use for products to keep the leather in tip top shape? Especially for the hard wearing boots (I just brushed of the dust so far) and gun bags.

Looking forward to hear what the experts say

Cheers,

V.

@VertigoBE - I have NO IDEA but am impressed you have Elephant hide boots !! I would be very careful with whatever you use and consult the manufacturer if possible.

 

[deewayne2003]

https://www.amazon.com/Colourlock-Preserver-Waterproof-Furniture-Accessories/dp/B01FWCAXU2

 

[375er]

Good old Saddle Soap may be your friend with this, but as stated above proceed cautiously and try a small test area if possible. Many varietys of leather dye out there.

 

[grand veneur]

My old Courteney's are also made of elephant leather. Despite being used yearly when hunting in Africa, I have rarely treated them with any grease after cleaning. If then, I used a fine fat, from type recommended by @deewayne2003 . The elephant's leather seems to me to be a sensitive leather that should be cared with caution and for this reason with fats intended for fine sensitive leather and not with the usual shoe polish that we use for our badlanders boots.

 

[Frederik]

Clear leather wax made of natural products.

 

[VertigoBE]

https://www.amazon.com/Colourlock-Preserver-Waterproof-Furniture-Accessories/dp/B01FWCAXU2

It is called "Elephant Leather Preserver", but this is 100% synthetic, for use on car seat leather...

From Amazon:
"The Fat For Elephant allows you to leave for sensitive and silky shine. The thin case surrounds, treated and nurtures your living style integrieren. in leather with a slight shine thickness: convertibles, cars, the leather of the pouches and case, the for shoes, saddles or secured by straps. The Fat For Leather Elephant is also ideal for the furniture in leather or for the/Rider. The product is 100% man made fabric, odour-neutral and free from emissions and fats or oils plant or animal and for this reason, easy to hold.
If the leather is wet or stains, you can, then clean thoroughly. For cleaning up extreme softness for a normal or the power cleaner for dirt and smudges. This prevents that meticulous in the staining on the leather. The cleaning brush Colourlock makes work easier, stubborn dirt and depth.
'The Fat For Leather Elephant á 125 ml) is extremely. The grease is Anhydrat (free No Water) and must be used sparingly. The pack contains enough for the leather interior of a car old several times."

 

[deewayne2003]

It is called "Elephant Leather Preserver", but this is 100% synthetic, for use on car seat leather...

From Amazon:
"The Fat For Elephant allows you to leave for sensitive and silky shine. The thin case surrounds, treated and nurtures your living style integrieren. in leather with a slight shine thickness: convertibles, cars, the leather of the pouches and case, the for shoes, saddles or secured by straps. The Fat For Leather Elephant is also ideal for the furniture in leather or for the/Rider. The product is 100% man made fabric, odour-neutral and free from emissions and fats or oils plant or animal and for this reason, easy to hold.
If the leather is wet or stains, you can, then clean thoroughly. For cleaning up extreme softness for a normal or the power cleaner for dirt and smudges. This prevents that meticulous in the staining on the leather. The cleaning brush Colourlock makes work easier, stubborn dirt and depth.
'The Fat For Leather Elephant á 125 ml) is extremely. The grease is Anhydrat (free No Water) and must be used sparingly. The pack contains enough for the leather interior of a car old several times."

I agreed with the elephant/vegan hypocrisy in the name..... However other than that, what is your point?

If it's good enough for leather seats on the most expensive cars in the world It's good enough for your boots.

FYI elephant hide is some of the toughest hide on the planet.

I have a pair of elephant hide boots that I inherited from my great uncle who bought them in 1976, he wore them daily while working cattle and the only cleaning they ever got was a spray with the hose at a car wash and wiped down with leather lotion once a year.

I also use motor oil to lube my guns... If Mobil one 20w-50 is good enough for $50K race engines I'm sure it will protect my lever action 30-30.

 

[Zinz]

I have a pair of elephant hide boots that I inherited from my great uncle who bought them in 1976, he wore them daily while working cattle and the only cleaning they ever got was a spray with the hose at a car wash and wiped down with leather lotion once a year.

This ^

My good friend has worn custom elephant hide boots as his daily ranch/work boot for decades. He doesn't treat them with anything more than to knock the mud off and go on down the road. He gifted me a pair of elephant hide boots that were a bit too small for him. I put some Sno-Seal beeswax on them and never touched them again.

I use Pure Neats Foot oil on my leather work boots (Neats Foot oil is good for softening new leather like Red Wing boots, or old leather, such as a saddle that hasn't been cared for in many years. The saddle maker I used for repairs told me to only use 100% Neats Foot oil on saddles. IT WILL DARKEN THE LEATHER

I have worn some cape buffalo hide veldskoen boots I got from my old friend Jon Wamback in Namibia decades ago... I've re-soled them twice, but the leather is barely worn. I use a stiff brush on them after the season and apply some Sno-Seal beeswax and they look almost new.

FYI... many "elephant hide" boots marketed today are simply cowhide that is pattern-stamped to look like elephant. Buy from a reputable bootmaker or shop; or use your own trophy hides.

Ed Z

 

[VertigoBE]

I agreed with the elephant/vegan hypocrisy in the name..... However other than that, what is your point?

If it's good enough for leather seats on the most expensive cars in the world It's good enough for your boots.

FYI elephant hide is some of the toughest hide on the planet.

I have a pair of elephant hide boots that I inherited from my great uncle who bought them in 1976, he wore them daily while working cattle and the only cleaning they ever got was a spray with the hose at a car wash and wiped down with leather lotion once a year.

I also use motor oil to lube my guns... If Mobil one 20w-50 is good enough for $50K race engines I'm sure it will protect my lever action 30-30.

I had no intent to make some kind of point. Just that some were calling for a wax/grease based only on 100% natural ingredients, while this one is 100% synthetic.

Thanks for the suggestion in any case. Although it is produced in Germany, it seems hard to find and is out of stock in many places.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I will use lexol on my elephant leather products