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homestead

Preserving shoe and boot leather

John F Dean

master steward

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Location: southern Illinois, USA

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posted 3 years ago

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What approaches are used by the members here to treat leather for foot gear?

Some people age like fine wine. I aged like milk … sour and chunky.

Olga Booker

pollinator

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Location: South West France

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posted 3 years ago

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Hubby swears by duck fat, he even waterproofs his Barbour with it!

Love is the only resource that grows the more you use it.
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Anne Miller

steward

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Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 3 years ago

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when we had bees, we used bees wax to restore and waterproof leather shoes and boots.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

John F Dean

master steward

Posts: 7649

Location: southern Illinois, USA

2825

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posted 3 years ago

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I’m glad I asked. I just got 2 approaches I haven’t used.

Some people age like fine wine. I aged like milk … sour and chunky.

Olga Booker

pollinator

Posts: 672

Location: South West France

258

posted 3 years ago

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Ha, well! we've got ducks!! Got to use what you've got haven’t you??

Love is the only resource that grows the more you use it.
David Brower

Heather Sharpe

gardener

Posts: 828

Location: Central Indiana, zone 6a, clay loam

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posted 3 years ago

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I've used a similar approach. I made sort of a salve. 1 part beeswax and 1 part deer tallow, if I recall. I set the tin of it on the masonry heater so it would be a little easier to work with and then rubbed it onto clean boots. Has done a great job keeping the leather flexible and waterproof.

“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.” ~ Robin Wall Kimmerer

Matt McSpadden

gardener

Posts: 2870

Location: Central Maine (Zone 5a)

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posted 3 years ago

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I know "Farmer Boy" is not meant to be a history book, but Almanzo rubbed his moccasins with tallow, and that seems to fit in with what other people are saying here.

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Marc Dube

pollinator

Posts: 255

Location: Saskatchewan

posted 3 years ago

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I paint melted deer tallow on my boots and then work it in with a heat gun. The tallow soaks into the leather and seams this way totally water proofing the boots. I have some that I've done like this 3 years ago and the seams and creases are still in excellent shape and still water proof!

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