For a field camera which hasn't been used for a while, what's the best cleaning and renewing treatment for a leather bellows? This one's been in storage, for a while. Just got it out...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

This one's been in storage, for a while. Just got it out, and it really needs a beauty treatment. Any ideas? ... Don't want to use the wrong stuff - yaknow?

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Can you post an image? I'd like to see it.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Saddle soap

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

pesfls wrote:

Saddle soap

I thought about that, Pes ....

Are you sure that's the best thing? ... Have you used it, yourself, on a leather bellows?

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

sloscheider wrote:

Can you post an image? I'd like to see it.

In order to come up with a recommendation to clean it, you mean, Slo?

Or, do you just want to see a picture of it, anyway?

If, the latter, Slo ... I'd prefer to clean it up, first ... before I take a picture of it ... kinda messy, right now ....

Is that alright with you, Slo?

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Chris T wrote:

I thought about that, Pes ....

Are you sure that's the best thing? ... Have you used it, yourself, on a leather bellows?

No not on a bellows but over many years on numerous leather goods. Never had any problem so thought you were not aware of it.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

pesfls wrote:

No not on a bellows but over many years on numerous leather goods. Never had any problem so thought you were not aware of it.

Okay, Pes ... I'll try it ... think I have some around here, somewhere .... thanks for the suggestion ....

Was going to try some furniture polish, but I'm a little wary of it ....

Of course - it'll work fine on the wood frame, but ... perhaps, not - on the bellows ....

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I think it should be fine. You certainly don’t want to use anything with solvents in it on the leather. That’d serve to dry it out. Exotically, you could find some pure lanolin. Good luck.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

pesfls wrote:

I think it should be fine. You certainly don’t want to use anything with solvents in it on the leather. That’d serve to dry it out. Exotically, you could find some pure lanolin. Good luck.

Is furniture polish likely to have solvents in it, Pes?

Pure lanolin, huh? ... Now that's an idea ....

I had a bottle of pure Aloe Vera around here, a little while ago, but, it got knocked off the counter, and the top broke off, and then, it dried out ...

But, perhaps, that would've been too "soapy" anyway ... which, actually ... brings us back to the saddle soap idea ... full circle!

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Yes many furniture products will have some ammount of hydrocarbon solvent. Bad juju on leather. I’m not the expert personally but have a buddy who is a saddlemaker & has told me to just scrub with saddle soap. He said it “feeds” the leather without making it softer. Just clean and nice looking.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Chris T wrote:

In order to come up with a recommendation to clean it, you mean, Slo?

Or, do you just want to see a picture of it, anyway?

If, the latter, Slo ... I'd prefer to clean it up, first ... before I take a picture of it ... kinda messy, right now ....

Is that alright with you, Slo?

Just thought it would be interesting to see what you have Ch. perhaps knowing exactly what it is would alter some of the suggestions. I have none so can’t claim to know anything about them.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

pesfls wrote:

Yes many furniture products will have some ammount of hydrocarbon solvent. Bad juju on leather. I’m not the expert personally but have a buddy who is a saddlemaker & has told me to just scrub with saddle soap. He said it “feeds” the leather without making it softer. Just clean and nice looking.

Okay, Pes ... thanks ... I shall use the furniture polish on the wood frame, but be careful to keep it off the bellows ...

There is a can of Saddle Soap, here, somewhere ... I'll look for it ...

Thanks, again, Pes ....

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

sloscheider wrote:

Just thought it would be interesting to see what you have Ch. perhaps knowing exactly what it is would alter some of the suggestions. I have none so can’t claim to know anything about them.

It's a B&J flat bed, Slo ... I thought it was a 5x7, but now, I look at it, again ... it may, indeed, be an 8x10 ...

I think Pes has already given me the best suggestion - saddle soap ....

I will try that (once I find it) ... and then, if it works out, I'll take a pic, and post it, here - okay, Slo?

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

pesfls wrote:

You certainly don’t want to use anything with solvents in it on the leather. That’d serve to dry it out. Exotically, you could find some pure lanolin. Good luck.

Someone else had used a semi popular leather restorer- and softened the bellows' glue joints.
Lanolin? The pure good stuff is hiding in your drug store; aka "Nipple Cream".
I live in SoCal, heavily Asian 'hood, and I had real good luck with a recommended shoe polish- I can't read anything but it's something to do with a bird. I get it warm on a cup warmer, apply lightly with a q-tip, gently buff with solid support underneath. I (oddly) have yet to try it on shoes, but it is excellent on other leather strips and panels and grips and covers, etc, without messing with the underlying adhesives. YMMV

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Harry0 wrote:

Someone else had used a semi popular leather resto... (show quote)

I think you mean Kiwi - don't you, Harry? .. That's New Zealand's national bird … also a shoe polish.

So, I'd get the white one, would I?