Frying mold

Vlim · 05-23-2021, 08:32 AM

I have used a hair dryer in the past to apply heat to holster to kill mold. Works well.

Since I have my own oven now, I revisited an old advice and tried it out as follows:

Oven preheated to 212f / 100 Celcius.
With the door open, placed holster on the rack.

Observed the holster and watched the mold slowly disappear. Then turned off the oven and let the holster cool down in it for a few minutes, then removed it.

Nice leather smell, not too bad.

I could have given it a bit more, but since this was the first attempt (and a rare holster) I was a bit more careful.

Think I will apply some more heat to the inside with a hair dryer.

sheepherder · 05-23-2021, 10:00 AM

Do you give it a stiff (or gentle) brushing afterwards? Apply any leather dressing?

Vlim · 05-23-2021, 10:14 AM

Nope. Just as they were before.

spangy · 05-23-2021, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

Oven preheated to 212f / 100 Celcius.
With the door open, placed holster on the rack.

Observed the holster and watched the mold slowly disappear. Then turned off the oven and let the holster cool down in it for a few minutes, then removed it.

Thanks Vlim

... roughly how long did you leave your holster in the oven before the mold disappeared then letting it cool off ??

Vlim · 05-23-2021, 03:11 PM

Less than 10 mimutes. Door open and I kept observing the holser and disappearing mold.

Edward Tinker · 05-23-2021, 03:30 PM

I've had mold, but generally have lived where it is dryer and have usually only had it on a holster left where it was damper (out in garage because they were gunshow stuff)

Vlim · 05-23-2021, 03:50 PM

Yes, most here are ok. It's just a couple that are affected.
See how it developes. I used to store everything in a climate controlled gun room. But since I got expelled from there, they have to live in a normal room.

hayhugh · 05-23-2021, 04:42 PM

What does she use the climate controlled gun room for now?

Vlim · 05-23-2021, 04:47 PM

Her own guns.

lugerholsterrepair · 05-23-2021, 08:59 PM

Gerben, Oven preheated to 212f / 100 Celcius.
With the door open, placed holster on the rack.

Killing mold on vintage leather has been an interest of mine for some time. I have used as high as 350 F in a closed oven and let the heat reduce to nothing. My thought is..a lesser temperature melts the flowers but I have always wanted to kill what makes the flowers, the spores. 350 F does no damage. It is 100 degrees F away from burning. 350 F SUSTAINED WILL damage leather however. What you are after is enough heat penetrating into leather to do the job of completely making the holster incapable of regenerating mold that is left behind.

Saying this, we all must realize mold is everywhere in our environment. When the mold cured holster is cooled, it has the possibility of attracting mold floating by. It is really only by ideal storage conditions that we can keep it in check.

I use a solar powered heat box to treat clients holsters I get that have mold prior to repair. No risk at all at 225 F. Even sustained temperature. At that temp the holster is HOT to the touch coming out of the box.
So this method works..until moisture, heat and mold spores all gather together again.

05-23-2021, 08:32 AM	#1
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Frying mold I have used a hair dryer in the past to apply heat to holster to kill mold. Works well. Since I have my own oven now, I revisited an old advice and tried it out as follows: Oven preheated to 212f / 100 Celcius. With the door open, placed holster on the rack. Observed the holster and watched the mold slowly disappear. Then turned off the oven and let the holster cool down in it for a few minutes, then removed it. Nice leather smell, not too bad. I could have given it a bit more, but since this was the first attempt (and a rare holster) I was a bit more careful. Think I will apply some more heat to the inside with a hair dryer. Attached Thumbnails

05-23-2021, 10:00 AM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Do you give it a stiff (or gentle) brushing afterwards? Apply any leather dressing? __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

05-23-2021, 08:59 PM	#10
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Gerben, Oven preheated to 212f / 100 Celcius. With the door open, placed holster on the rack. Killing mold on vintage leather has been an interest of mine for some time. I have used as high as 350 F in a closed oven and let the heat reduce to nothing. My thought is..a lesser temperature melts the flowers but I have always wanted to kill what makes the flowers, the spores. 350 F does no damage. It is 100 degrees F away from burning. 350 F SUSTAINED WILL damage leather however. What you are after is enough heat penetrating into leather to do the job of completely making the holster incapable of regenerating mold that is left behind. Saying this, we all must realize mold is everywhere in our environment. When the mold cured holster is cooled, it has the possibility of attracting mold floating by. It is really only by ideal storage conditions that we can keep it in check. I use a solar powered heat box to treat clients holsters I get that have mold prior to repair. No risk at all at 225 F. Even sustained temperature. At that temp the holster is HOT to the touch coming out of the box. So this method works..until moisture, heat and mold spores all gather together again. __________________ 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."

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05-23-2021, 10:14 AM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Nope. Just as they were before.

05-23-2021, 03:11 PM	#5
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Less than 10 mimutes. Door open and I kept observing the holser and disappearing mold.

05-23-2021, 03:30 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I've had mold, but generally have lived where it is dryer and have usually only had it on a holster left where it was damper (out in garage because they were gunshow stuff)

05-23-2021, 03:50 PM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Yes, most here are ok. It's just a couple that are affected. See how it developes. I used to store everything in a climate controlled gun room. But since I got expelled from there, they have to live in a normal room.

05-23-2021, 04:42 PM	#8
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 898 Thanks: 880 Thanked 514 Times in 276 Posts	What does she use the climate controlled gun room for now?

05-23-2021, 04:47 PM	#9
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Her own guns.