Long term care for “nicer” leather gloves (Hestra’s, BDs, Oyukis, etc…)

[nickwm21]

What is the maggot approved product/method for conditioning and waterproofing nicer leather gloves?

I bought a nice pair of Oyuki’s last season after a decade of snoseal baking Kinco’s… They came with a pouch of Nikwax Waterproofing, which I used, but what to use for ongoing conditioning?

- Snoseal?
- Obenaufs? (the Oil, LP is too greasy)
- Nikwax?
- Hestra Balm?

Bake? Hair drier? Just apply and go?




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[tuco]

Snoseal kinda sux.
My untreated Kinco's have lasted longer and performed better(you lose that dexterous as fuck quality w/ snoseal-hardens the leather) than my snosealed Kinco's . Snoseal is for boots

[east or bust]

I’d say the break in process is longer with snoseal or you over baked em. I have two pairs of 9 year old flylow gloves that have seen nothing but snoseal and they are dexterous as fuck.

I have a backup pair from about 5 years ago that I think I over baked a bit and they are completely different than the other two



My .02

Snoseal, bake on the first round then use hairdryer for reapplications

[gregL]

What is the maggot approved product/method for conditioning and waterproofing nicer leather gloves?

I bought a nice pair of Oyuki’s last season after a decade of snoseal baking Kinco’s… They came with a pouch of Nikwax Waterproofing, which I used, but what to use for ongoing conditioning?

- Snoseal?
- Obenaufs? (the Oil, LP is too greasy)
- Nikwax?
- Hestra Balm?

Bake? Hair drier? Just apply and go?

Keep using the Nikwax "Waterproofing Wax for Leather", just rub it on and let dry - I do it once a year. Don't get the Nikwax spray on glove product.

[XXX-er]

the oven can overdo it so hair dryer or heat gun held between the knees, put the gloves on, scoop out some beeswax kind of product and rub it in

[Ted Striker]

ongoing conditioning?

- Obenaufs? (the Oil, LP is too greasy)

Definitely Obenaufs for conditioning. Or Bick 4. Then follow up with one the the wax products.

[J. Barron DeJong]

Is your goal to ‘waterproof’ them, or just take care of the leather to keep it from drying/cracking?

I’ve found that no matter how much snoseal I put on my Hestra’s they aren’t waterproof, and I did find that it made the gloves stiffer. Now I don’t bother trying to make them waterproof and just wear different gloves with a waterproof membrane if I’m going to be out on a day when I’m worried the Hestra’s might soak through (usually snowing heavy wet snow).

For general conditioning any leather/hand balm should be fine. Something with oils/butters/waxes.

[2FUNKY]

Kenetrek boot wax.
Put hairdryer between knees and turn on.
Put on gloves.
Grab a glob of kenetrek wax and rub it in.
Ovens are for pies

[yeahman]

And leather gloves are for yard work.

[Conundrum]

Kenetrek boot wax.
Put hairdryer between knees and turn on.
Put on gloves.
Grab a glob of kenetrek wax and rub it in.
Ovens are for pies

This on all accounts.

[::: :::]

Ovens have a low setting — ours is 170 degs
Works great
I put a piece of 1/2” cab plywood in there to not get wax on the inside of the oven
I set multiple gloves in there and pull them out to work on them
You can even crack the door if you want

Running a hair dryer on gloves sounds tedious as fuck trying to melt wax reasonably quickly, not to mention likely adds to the drying effect

Just my $0.02

[Flippo]

I use the free the powder balm. Works great.

[jmedslc]

I run a variety of Kinco and FTP leather gloves. Heat oven to 225 then turn it off. Gloves on cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Pull them out, reheat oven and turn off again. lube gloves thoroughly with Obenaufs LP beeswax treatment. Back in oven for 30min. Repeat. Gloves are buttery smooth and reasonably water resistant. Don’t use too much product.

[J. Barron DeJong]

I use the free the powder balm. Works great.

This looks like a perfectly good balm, but the glove/boot balm game must be a great game to be in. Buy ingredients for a few bucks/lb, melt and stir, sell for $64/lb.

Started making my own balm some time ago because of this.

[jmedslc]

DeJong’s balm. “Maggot made. Trusted by jongs worldwide.”

Got a nice ring to it.

[abraham]

This looks like a perfectly good balm, but the glove/boot balm game must be a great game to be in. Buy ingredients for a few bucks/lb, melt and stir, sell for $64/lb.

Started making my own balm some time ago because of this.

Why not just use the tubs of chain wax you have to heat up occasionally?

[zion zig zag]

Kenetrek boot wax.
Put hairdryer between knees and turn on.
Put on gloves.
Grab a glob of kenetrek wax and rub it in.
Ovens are for pies

I’ve been using the Kenetrek wax as well. I had some on hand for my boots and it spreads easier than nikwax or snoseal.

[dunfree]

This looks like a perfectly good balm, but the glove/boot balm game must be a great game to be in. Buy ingredients for a few bucks/lb, melt and stir, sell for $64/lb.

Started making my own balm some time ago because of this.

And if you really want to up your margin, dilute them with a solvent. You can even use water (nikwax).


and yes, it’s easy to make these things. A cheap hot plate, beaker, glass stir stick. Snoseal used ta be 1:2 beeswax:naptha I think.

[J. Barron DeJong]

DeJong’s balm. “Maggot made. Trusted by jongs worldwide.”

Got a nice ring to it.

*note: DeJong balm does not contain actual maggots, human or insect.

if anyone wants to pay me $8/oz for my balm, I’m happy to oblige. Started when I tried a climbing balm when my hands were cracking in winter, and it worked, but couldn’t justify the cost, so started making it myself. Like what I’m making better than what I had bought as well.

[J. Barron DeJong]

Why not just use the tubs of chain wax you have to heat up occasionally?

would the tungsten disulfide in the chain wax help me ski faster? If so, may need to try that… but actually not going to try that

[J. Barron DeJong]

And if you really want to up your margin, dilute them with a solvent. You can even use water (nikwax).


and yes, it’s easy to make these things. A cheap hot plate, beaker, glass stir stick. Snoseal used ta be 1:2 beeswax:naptha I think.

yeah. So I mainly make mine for use on hands and feet, it just happens to be basically the same stuff that’s made for leather as well, so I use it there too. Not too high on the idea of slathering mineral spirits on my skin daily.

[Flippo]

Why not just use the tubs of chain wax you have to heat up occasionally?

8$ and I have enough for a season or two. That's cheap enough so I don't spend my time sourcing the ingredients and making my own.

[J. Barron DeJong]

8$ and I have enough for a season or two. That's cheap enough so I don't spend my time sourcing the ingredients and making my own.

Agreed, if that’s all you need. Still nice to be the manufacturer of that product though.

[SKIP IN7RO]

Both gloves on, glob of snoseal or ilk, open door to woodstove, and lather 'em up. Let cool then repeat heat and lather once or twice more, only adding snoseal if needed.

[bennymac]

Soak in queso?

Adds a nice orange sheen, smells great, has added calories in desperate times.