Restoring Oil Soaked Leather

alanint · 09-23-2008, 09:43 PM

This has been probably asked before, but what is the best method to treat severely oil-soaked leather to bring it back to a presentable condition?
In this case it involved two older rifle slings, which were stored in preservatives along with their host Mauser rifles.
Thanks

lugerholsterrepair · 09-23-2008, 10:03 PM

Al, You might bury them in cat litter for awhile.

Jerry Burney

Heinz · 09-24-2008, 07:48 PM

Al, Jerrry is always a little vague with this recommendation. It is best if you do not bury it in the cat litter box. Bury it in a bag of cat litter that has not been used. :-)

lugerholsterrepair · 09-24-2008, 08:07 PM

Heinz-HAHA! It is easier to find unused litter....

Jerry Burney

John Sabato · 09-24-2008, 11:36 PM

You should also fill the holster with CLEAN cat litter, and also the mag pouch... then bury it in the bag of cat litter and leave it there for a couple of weeks. When the time "underground" is over, you can dump out the litter, blow the dust out of the holster with an air hose, and then buff it with a soft rag... You can even reuse the cat litter for it's original purpose... The cat litter should absorb a good quantity of the oil... but it will never get it all out of the leather.

09-23-2008, 09:43 PM	#1
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Restoring Oil Soaked Leather This has been probably asked before, but what is the best method to treat severely oil-soaked leather to bring it back to a presentable condition? In this case it involved two older rifle slings, which were stored in preservatives along with their host Mauser rifles. Thanks

09-23-2008, 10:03 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,766 Thanks: 4,883 Thanked 3,120 Times in 1,432 Posts	Al, You might bury them in cat litter for awhile. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-24-2008, 08:07 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,766 Thanks: 4,883 Thanked 3,120 Times in 1,432 Posts	Heinz-HAHA! It is easier to find unused litter.... Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-24-2008, 11:36 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	You should also fill the holster with CLEAN cat litter, and also the mag pouch... then bury it in the bag of cat litter and leave it there for a couple of weeks. When the time "underground" is over, you can dump out the litter, blow the dust out of the holster with an air hose, and then buff it with a soft rag... You can even reuse the cat litter for it's original purpose... The cat litter should absorb a good quantity of the oil... but it will never get it all out of the leather. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-24-2008, 07:48 PM	#3
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	Al, Jerrry is always a little vague with this recommendation. It is best if you do not bury it in the cat litter box. Bury it in a bag of cat litter that has not been used. :-)