Opinions on Vaseline???

[mandy333]

Greetings Forum: What are the opinions on using vaseline to revitalize dry(but not dry rot) leather chinstraps and liners. I have used it before and have found amazing results to be more than satisfactory. Any other non harmful procedures would be appreciated.All the best!
Sincere Regards
Zeke

[Von Eisen]

Hi Zeke ,
I thought the general rule is not to apply treatments to the leather components of helmets
regards Simon .

[mandy333]

Natural conditioner to increase life?

Greetings Simon: You are correct ,that is the general rule...but where the leather is relatively good shape but is very dry and brittle to a point of cracking(not dry rot), I think the introduction of a natural moisturizer to eliminate possible cracking could only help but prolong it's existance. IMO..what are other comments. All ideas help to sovle a problem correctly.Thank you.
Zeke

[CWP]

Vaseline will contribute to the decay of the leather over time. Most museums are now familiar with the studies that show the damage done by leather dressings and no longer apply these treatments. Once leather has lost its natural moisture, there is no way to replace it without damage. It is possible to temporarily make the leather more supple, but every time the leather flexes, it sustains damage that worsens with time. It will also permanently alter the appearance of the leather. Leave it alone!

[nutmeg]

Vaseline will contribute to the decay of the leather over time. Most museums are now familiar with the studies that show the damage done by leather dressings and no longer apply these treatments. Once leather has lost its natural moisture, there is no way to replace it without damage. It is possible to temporarily make the leather more supple, but every time the leather flexes, it sustains damage that worsens with time. It will also permanently alter the appearance of the leather. Leave it alone!

This is excellent advice, do nothing.

[mandy333]

Left alone

Thank you fellows for all your advice. I had heard vasoline would not harm leather over time. As to your comments and advice the liner and chinstrap will be left as is.Best regards
Zeke

[Theodor]

How about the Lanolin based produckts, the Pecard and etc?

[90th Light]

How about the Lanolin based produckts, the Pecard and etc?

Lanolin based is the worst of the lot and will permanently crack & destroy the leather.

I have had great success with Vaseline on crumbling dry rot leather and badly chafed or cracked leather. The secret is to use it very very sparingly.

People in Museums hate it but so far no rot after 25 years in some cases. Funny thing is it was an old German soldier who first told me that is what they used.

I will repeat however use it very very lightly and only on leather which is bad. If the leather is good or half good then do not touch it. Also you need to know how to get rid of the sticky effect on the surface and how to get it out of the stitching.

Remember if you put to much on the leather will go permantly dark or black which means you have stuffed it,

Good luck, Chris

[Valter Gorenc]

Everything that's important was already told, but I'll add just a few :-)

I never used vaseline on leather. On bad leather (both chinstraps and belt buckle straps) I use neutral leather shoe polish of good quality (dr. martens, 3 € for a small can) and it helped to gain flexity, it also helps to remove starting mould. I assume shoe polish is made to preserve leather, the tipe of leather that is supposed to be flexed, pulled, and otherwise stressed. BUT I have to tell that it will darken the light leather (not to make it completely black, but darker brown), but this happens to leather after a while anyway and it's not unnatural.

It's up to you to decide... And I'll try with little little vaseline next time.
Valter

[nutmeg]

By using all that crap you will be sorry later. You are not preserving or restoring anything, you are ruining. Firstly, you'll find when you go to sell serious collectors will turn up their noses at treated leather. If you keep it long enough you'll wonder why the leather you have stained is getting darker and little bits come off when you move the helmet around.A shame that helmets get through the whole war and sixty years to be damaged by well meaning collectors. I have collected 45 years and have seen a lot spoiled with all these uneeded cosmetic "feel good" treatments. Don't you watch "Antiques Roadshow" where they constantly advise against refinishing? That's what you are doing is refinishing the leather.

[Ron Weinand]

In our helmet books we have recommended using vasoline. The reasoning was to use it on FLAKING leather that was deteriorating right before your eyes. As STATED HERE, a very very thin film is enough to stop the flaking and NOT TO IMPREGNATE the entire leather service-that is where the discoloration and deterioration will come in to play. Vasoline will cause all airborne contaminates to attach to the leather and cause damage down the line, so you have to determine how much is just enough to stop the flaking and sheading.
JMO,
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

[Eric Gaumann]

How about a "food grade" mineral oil, or a saddle soap?

[Gebhi]

Try "Fiebings leather oil" which has blend of natural oils, lanolin and silicone. I have been using this for years and has never damaged or killed items appearence to what otherwise in time would of completely turned to cardboard. Do not use Neatsfoot blend oils as that will rot your stitching. Vaseline is not good leather preserver as it will dry out leather and with time will create cracks in surface giving greasy dull surface.

I try to paste alittle on at a time on backside of the leather item and not on the front surface skin, it helps to soak better with faster better results. It will not hurt your leather items.

[nutmeg]

Try "Fiebings leather oil" which has blend of natural oils, lanolin and silicone. I have been using this for years and has never damaged or killed items appearence to what otherwise in time would of completely turned to cardboard. Do not use Neatsfoot blend oils as that will rot your stitching. Vaseline is not good leather preserver as it will dry out leather and with time will create cracks in surface giving greasy dull surface.

I try to paste alittle on at a time on backside of the leather item and not on the front surface skin, it helps to soak better with faster better results. It will not hurt your leather items.

I am going to have label you guys the "LINER DESTOYERS".

[CWP]

Nutmeg is right. Scientific studies for museums leave no doubt that leather treatments do more harm than good.