Holster Care-Posted for Marvin Cook (VERY LONG)

Mark McMorrow · 08-04-2001, 02:14 PM

Marvin,

No offense taken - just trying to provide a foundation for my point. I also agree with you that its very easy to overdo things. Sufficient care should be taken with all conservation efforts since it's easy to do more harm than good. Unfortunately, as time goes by, conservation eventually becomes necessary. This is especially true in the case of organic materials and leather is particularly problematic. Some of the materials used in processing leather in the first place very often contribute to destabilizing it.

I suspect the whitish stuff you are seeing may be the residual drying effect of wax elements within the polish as it dries in contact with ambient air. If you've ever used Butcher's wax or similar, you will have noticed that it goes on clear but when dry it takes on a whitish hue. Perhaps you are seeing the same sort of thing here. It's not harmful, but it is unsightly and all the more reason not to overdo it.

Excellent point about the stitching. If thread is exposed shoe polish, dye or any other form of coloration, it's over. Short of removing the thread and re-stitching the holster (and that would be bad), there is really nothing you can do about it.

Mark

08-04-2001, 02:14 PM	#8
Mark McMorrow User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NE USA Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Holster Care-Posted for Marvin Cook (VERY LONG) Marvin, No offense taken - just trying to provide a foundation for my point. I also agree with you that its very easy to overdo things. Sufficient care should be taken with all conservation efforts since it's easy to do more harm than good. Unfortunately, as time goes by, conservation eventually becomes necessary. This is especially true in the case of organic materials and leather is particularly problematic. Some of the materials used in processing leather in the first place very often contribute to destabilizing it. I suspect the whitish stuff you are seeing may be the residual drying effect of wax elements within the polish as it dries in contact with ambient air. If you've ever used Butcher's wax or similar, you will have noticed that it goes on clear but when dry it takes on a whitish hue. Perhaps you are seeing the same sort of thing here. It's not harmful, but it is unsightly and all the more reason not to overdo it. Excellent point about the stitching. If thread is exposed shoe polish, dye or any other form of coloration, it's over. Short of removing the thread and re-stitching the holster (and that would be bad), there is really nothing you can do about it. Mark