GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
That's just how I like leather saddles, worn in. I have a similar condition, Wright saddle.
Any idea, what's best for polishing the top?
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
That's just how I like leather saddles, worn in. I have a similar condition, Wright saddle.
Any idea, what's best for polishing the top?
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Brooks proofhide or such like
i have a tin of this stuff and that works
i have a tin of this stuff and that works
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
You could work in some dubbin in, it is similar to the Brooks stuff.
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Proofide, plus you can 'rub down' the surface scuffs/crazing with 'wet and dry' (it was invented for the leather industry) but that crack developing between the rivets on the nose looks bad news to me.
mikeymustard
Guru
@GuyBoden I like my saddles well worn too and that one needs a lot of love 
I like this, I think it's basically pretty the same as proofide (not dissing proofide btw, I just like to experiment):
I reckon something with beeswax would be good. Just try to avoid stuff with petrochemicals in and not too wet - the idea is to replace fats that have been removed or leached out. Use sparingly, I know it's tempting to slather a dry saddle til it's sopping but please - DON'T!!! Too much oil will make the fibres sag and go floppy - don't forget, bike saddles need to be hard, even when they're well fed
Sorry for the info overload but I've been doing a bit of research for a blog article I was writing. I can even give you a recipe to make your own
I like this, I think it's basically pretty the same as proofide (not dissing proofide btw, I just like to experiment):
I reckon something with beeswax would be good. Just try to avoid stuff with petrochemicals in and not too wet - the idea is to replace fats that have been removed or leached out. Use sparingly, I know it's tempting to slather a dry saddle til it's sopping but please - DON'T!!! Too much oil will make the fibres sag and go floppy - don't forget, bike saddles need to be hard, even when they're well fed
Sorry for the info overload but I've been doing a bit of research for a blog article I was writing. I can even give you a recipe to make your own
mikeymustard
Guru
That's not GuyBoden's saddle it's from here
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Linky no worky.
mikeymustard
Guru
bah, in that case it's from the ebay and auction watch thread
OP
OP
GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
Thanks for all the advice.
Here's my old Wrights W3ST saddle after some over night Dubin treatment. It's improved.
There are a lot of cracks, but it is a 1960-70's saddle. The main thing is, it's very comfy.
Insights into your secret recipe would be greatly appreciated.
Here's my old Wrights W3ST saddle after some over night Dubin treatment. It's improved.
There are a lot of cracks, but it is a 1960-70's saddle. The main thing is, it's very comfy.
Insights into your secret recipe would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited:
mikeymustard
Guru
Well, obviously it wouldn't be secret any more then, would it?Insights into your secret recipe would be greatly appreciated.
A basic recipe that has been suggested to me would be a mix of around 50% Tallow, 25% beeswax and 25% lard. There are other ingredients that can be substituted: lanolin apparently works well, but it can cause an allergic reaction in some. Apparently cod liver oil is used to give the leather back it's "leathery" smell, so you can wipe a little onto the saddle after treating it - cod oil is an ingredient of proofide.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I had a look at my favourite and original Brooks saddle off of my Holdsworth from 1971 and noticed some nasty splits. In the past it had been used in all types of weather and had never had any treatment applied to it until this year when I worked some dubbin into it.
When I bought my bike new I cannot remember receiving any instructions on how to look after it so it just got used. I suppose it is amazing that it has lasted so well, it could also be that I haven't used it too often.
The last time I rode it which was last year I found it to be really soft and comfortable. It was only this year that I noticed the splits and have bought another saddle to use while I figure out what to do to it.
When I bought my bike new I cannot remember receiving any instructions on how to look after it so it just got used. I suppose it is amazing that it has lasted so well, it could also be that I haven't used it too often.
The last time I rode it which was last year I found it to be really soft and comfortable. It was only this year that I noticed the splits and have bought another saddle to use while I figure out what to do to it.
Attachments
mikeymustard
Guru
I'm pretty sure that not using it is the worst thing to do to a saddle 
Have you considered putting larger rivets on it? One of those big copper jobs might just cover most of that crack, it could stabilise it maybe?
Have you considered putting larger rivets on it? One of those big copper jobs might just cover most of that crack, it could stabilise it maybe?
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
My mind went through all sorts of things from Egyptian mummies to bog burials in thinking how they have managed to survive thousands of years. It would seem that storage has played a roll in It's condition as it has been suspended from the ceiling of my old garage for nearly thirty years. The fact that it hadn't been treated would also have had an effect.
On close inspection it looks as though the cracks have not gone through completely yet. The idea of using larger rivets did come to mind and may be considered later. My mind is full of thoughts at the moment.
On close inspection it looks as though the cracks have not gone through completely yet. The idea of using larger rivets did come to mind and may be considered later. My mind is full of thoughts at the moment.
