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Old 08-24-2019, 05:05 AM
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Default Shining up a holster

I have a smooth leather holster that has been worn inside the pants and has some dull areas on it.What can I use to shine up the holster?
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Old 08-24-2019, 05:24 AM
crazyphil crazyphil is offline
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When I clean up a holster I start with a few drops of Dawn (dishwasher
soap) in warm water & scrub with a kitchen sponge. After thoroughly
dry I massage in some Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich with my fingers. Then
allow to dry. When good and dry, buff with shoe brush. If you want a
little extra shine wipe on some Fiebings Tan-Kote. You can get it at
Tandy.
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Old 08-24-2019, 08:20 AM
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...or you could just get a can of KIWI Neutral shoe polish and apply a light coating in a circular motion. Buff with a shoe brush.
That's what I did with this Bianchi.
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Old 08-24-2019, 08:35 AM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
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When my holsters get pretty beat up I use "USMC" black leather die, then when dry a coat of Johnson's floor wax. Buffed with brush or rag! I have a couple of colors of brown I use but most commercial holster companies' die colors are not matchable, so I usually go with English Tan (a rich reddish brown).

My F-I-L was a cop for around 30 years. His white dress hat would get scuffed up, He would tape off the bill and spray paint the hat with car paint! But the tall boots from his Solo Patrol days always has a spit shine on them.

He was known to paint convertible tops when they were grungy too.

Ivan
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Old 08-24-2019, 10:14 AM
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Thanks everybody!I guess I will have to go to Tandy as I have tried neutral shoe polish and even tried some wax and the holster still has some dull spots.
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Old 08-24-2019, 04:27 PM
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Thanks everybody!I guess I will have to go to Tandy as I have tried neutral shoe polish and even tried some wax and the holster still has some dull spots.
Tandy sells this product that you will like; it's a dressing that includes a gloss. Tan Kote:

Fiebing's Tan Kote | Tandy Leather Australia (don't let the 'australia' in the link fluster you; Google knew I am there so did that)

Use a bit of sheepswool to apply it, rubbing it in quickly. Dries in minutes. I use it in my 'production' finish.
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Old 08-25-2019, 07:19 AM
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I learned about Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich from turnerriver a long time
ago. I learned about Fiebing's Tan Kote from Red Nichols almost as
long ago. They are both Gurus. They know what they are talking about.
You won't go wrong with either Blackrock or Tan-Kote, or both.
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Old 08-25-2019, 09:12 PM
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Just last night, after reading Crazyphil's use of Dawn, I cleaned a Bianchi #7/7L S&W 9mm with soap. The holster had what I would call use/rub marks from use. The holster is plain russet in color. After a good cleaning and left to dry overnight, I was pleasantly surprised how it looked. I rubbed in recently acquired Blacrock onto it and brushed to a sheen with the horse hair shoe brush. After a day, and just inspecting it, some of the dark marks have returned. but overall, the holster is much improved. I don't have the pistol for the holster, and don't think I will buy an autojammer for it.
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Old 08-30-2019, 02:55 AM
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Kiwi works great! After brushing it with a Horse Hair Brush use a Microfiber towel to make sure you get it all off. Works like a charm every time!
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Old 08-31-2019, 07:46 AM
Cruiser1 Cruiser1 is offline
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Anybody use Obenauf's HD ? I have had good luck with it on boots, leather chairs, etc.
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Old 08-31-2019, 05:24 PM
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Once its clean, I would use some Renaissance Wax to give it a nice shine. Ren Wax is useful for so many things.
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Old 08-31-2019, 05:58 PM
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My experience with definitely dull spots and all scuffed spots is that you need some color on them before anything else will do a good job. Shoe polish that will leave color on your hands that is kinda difficult to get off (soap, water, and scrubbing) will usually restore the lost color to the leather. The neutral polish will not restore color, just provide polish for the color already present. In some cases, a couple coats with good buffing after each may do the job by itself. If not, I'd use some good leather dye (alcohol based) judiciously on the spots after making certain there is no polish or wax on the area.

You might still be able to see the spot after, in which case I would use the dye on the whole surface, followed by a good matching color polish, followed by one of the products mentioned for the purpose. Ren Wax would be a good one to try. I guess I'm going to have to breakdown and get me some of the Blcackrock "Leather Enrich" that several have recommended and try it to see how it works. Sounds like it must work pretty well!
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Old 08-31-2019, 10:00 PM
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Fiebings Tan Kote or Bag Kote are both good products. Water-based emulsions of acrylic lacquer. Clean the leather thoroughly with a damp rag, allow to dry thoroughly, apply the Fiebings' product sparingly with a soft cloth or lambswool shearling, then set aside to allow the application to set completely before handling or use. Repeat if necessary.

Pleasant "egg shell" luster finish with good resistance to abrasion and scratching. Will not alter finish colors noticeably. No unpleasant odors.

Either one can be purchased at retail in Tandy leather stores in small (4-oz) bottles for a few dollars.
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Old 08-31-2019, 10:24 PM
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Quote:
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Fiebings Tan Kote or Bag Kote are both good products. Water-based emulsions of acrylic lacquer. Clean the leather thoroughly with a damp rag, allow to dry thoroughly, apply the Fiebings' product sparingly with a soft cloth or lambswool shearling, then set aside to allow the application to set completely before handling or use. Repeat if necessary.

Pleasant "egg shell" luster finish with good resistance to abrasion and scratching. Will not alter finish colors noticeably. No unpleasant odors.

Either one can be purchased at retail in Tandy leather stores in small (4-oz) bottles for a few dollars.
I certainly agree about Tan Kote; been awhile since I used Bag Kote. My personal favorite, and I have a two liters stashed, is a discontinued Fiebing's product called Harness Dressing. Unlike the Tan Kote there is no lacquer-type product in it; so it does not build up with repeated coats -- and it cleans while being applied! It's the product that was once used on Bianchi's gunleather from the '70s onwards and completely replaced lacquer. For those who like to use lacquer (I do) all three Fiebing's products act as a necessary undercoat for it.

And at least Tan Kote and Harness Dressing will darken the leather; and usually one can count on them to loosen the old finish enough to spread its coloration back onto the bare bits; unless one has actually removed the finish with, say, lacquer thinner. This gives back the uniform appearance.
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Old 08-31-2019, 11:18 PM
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This is all so confusing!
I find it’s easier just to send then to Phil.
And give him a deadline!
Just kidding!
No Deadline!
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