What is Neatsfoot oil? Courtesy of Wikipede and lostapiarist
« on: May 15, 2008, 09:03:34 AM »
"Neatsfoot oil is a yellow oil rendered and purified from the feet (but not the 
hooves) and shin bones of cattle. It remains liquid down to a low temperature,
and is used as a conditioning, softening and preservative agent for leather. In 
the 18th century, it was also used medically as a topical application for
dry scaly skin conditions.

Neatsfoot oil remains liquid at room temperature because the fat in animals' 
legs generally has a lower melting point than the body fat. This occurs because
the legs and feet of such animals are adapted to tolerate and maintain much 
lower temperatures than those of the body core, using countercurrent heat 
exchange
between arterial and venous blood. Because of this, neatsfoot oil remains 
liquid at room temperature and so can easily soak into leather.

Currently, neatsfoot oil is sometimes made from lard.[1] It is sold as 
neatsfoot oil in pure form, or neatsfoot oil compound, if mineral oil is added. 
Some
brands have been shown to be adulterated with rapeseed oil, soya oil, and 
drying oil[2]. Pure neatsfoot oil comes in two forms: regular and cold tested.
In the latter, the oil is filtered at 0 to -4°C to remove solid components, as 
they can lead to 'spewing' (a whitish crystalline deposit or bloom resulting
from fat migration).[3]

'Neat' in the oil's name comes from an old term for cattle, and even today the 
best quality neatsfoot oil still comes from the legs of calves and with no
mineral oil added. "Prime neatsfoot oil" or "neatsfoot oil compound" are terms 
used for a blend of pure neatsfoot oil and non-organic oils, generally mineral
oil. Although the "Prime" is marketed as "the saddlemaker's choice", many 
saddle makers actually recommend pure neatsfoot oil for leather goods, 
particularly
saddles. Pure neatsfoot oil has superior softening and preservative properties, 
the addition of mineral oils often leads to more rapid decay of stitching
and speeds breakdown of any adhesive materials that may have been used.

Neatsfoot oil, like other leather dressings, should not be used on important 
historical objects, as it will oxidize with time, and embrittle the leather
even more.[4] It also may leave an oily residue that can attract dust. On newer 
leather, it will inevitably darken the leather, even after a single application,
and thus is not a desirable product to use when maintaining a lighter shade is 
desired. However, for routine use on working equipment, particularly in
dry climates, it is a powerful softening and conditioning agent that few modern 
synthetic alternatives can replace." 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dale Leavens 
  To: [email protected] 
  Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 18:28
  Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] oiling a leather jacket


  What on earth is a neat? How does a neat feel about sacrificing it's feet for 
oil and how does it manage without it's feet?

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: William Stephan 
  To: [email protected] 
  Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 6:08 PM
  Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] oiling a leather jacket

  I use something similar to this, (could even be th3e same brand), for
  dispatch cases and the like, and it really does a good job. You just
  squirt some in your hand, work it into the leather and whipe and buff with a
  clean rag. It actually leaves a little shine as well as cleans your
  leather.

  Neatsfoot oil is very good for keeping leather tack supple in very cold
  weather, but it does often cause color changes, so I'd be careful using it
  on a jacket.

  -----Original Message-----
  From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  On Behalf Of Trouble
  Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 07:48
  To: [email protected]
  Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] oiling a leather jacket

  Mink oil is good for boots, but the leather on a jacket is softer and 
  needs a more milder wash. i got the lotion your talking about and it 
  will do a good job. you won't be leave how much dirt will come out.

  At 05:05 PM 10/4/2008, you wrote:

  >I read two different claims last night. SOme places say to use mink 
  >oil, but Wilson's leather goods recommends something called "leather 
  >lotion" and discourages the use of things like mink oil. SO I figure 
  >I'll take it into them and see what they say.
  >
  >----- Original Message -----
  >From: Ron Yearns
  >To: <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>blindhandyman@
  <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
  >Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 3:50 PM
  >Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] oiling a leather jacket
  >
  >Neatsfoot oil or some use mink oil. Let a sighted person try it on a 
  >inside area. Don't get overzealous in applying.
  >If the leather has been dyed it still might not absorb real evenly.
  >Ron
  >
  >----- Original Message -----
  >From: Robert Riddle
  >To: <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>blindhandyman@
  <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
  >Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 1:16 AM
  >Subject: [BlindHandyMan] oiling a leather jacket
  >
  >I have a full length leather duster here. It's starting to feel kind 
  >of dry and not as supple as it used to be. What oils should I use on 
  >it, if any? It's not suede, it feels kind of pebbly.
  >
  >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >
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  >
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  >
  >
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  Tim
  trouble
  "Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance."
  --Sam Brown

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