Mold

Navy · 05-03-2003, 05:21 PM

All,
Am curious as to least distructive way to eliminate mold that pops up from time to time. I have tried a light vinegar spritz, sealing in plastic with camphorated moth balls and a few other devil's brew concoctions.

Is there a relatively non-damaging way to kill the buggers once and for all?

Tom A
Who hates a fungus among us

lugerholsterrepair · 05-03-2003, 07:01 PM

Tom, I would suspect athletes foot powder might do the job. If I were in an area that had high humidity I would sew up some bags of crushed charcoal, baking soda or use a commercial dessicant. Mold cannot grow without moisture so keeping them dry is the key.

I bought a wooden tortilla press in Mexico some time back and there were little wood boring worms infesting it. I put it in the oven at about 200 degrees for several hours...No more worms. I would guess one could do the same with a holster if you knew the temperature that would kill the mold but not harm the leather. Jerry Burney

Navy · 05-03-2003, 08:24 PM

Hello Old Paratrooper Bud,

I am leary about applying heat to leather. Do you think that a lower temp, like 125 or so, would be effective?
Also, humidity is a fact of life here in the DC 'burbs...so once I kill the ##@@%% spores, how do I make certain they STAY gone?
Tom A.

wterrell · 05-03-2003, 09:16 PM

Tom,
Store them in a gun safe and install a de-humidifier in the vault with them.

At one time, taxidermists used arsenic to preserve their mounts.

Heinz · 05-03-2003, 09:21 PM

If you know someone in the food spice business, a hospital sterilizing area, or some large metropolitan libraries, an ethylene oxide sterilizer is supposed to do a wonderful job. They are not home operations however (reproductive toxicant, carcinogen, and marvelously explosive. There may be some contract applications that could be accessed.

Personally I like mothballs.

heinz

05-03-2003, 05:21 PM	#1
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Mold All, Am curious as to least distructive way to eliminate mold that pops up from time to time. I have tried a light vinegar spritz, sealing in plastic with camphorated moth balls and a few other devil's brew concoctions. Is there a relatively non-damaging way to kill the buggers once and for all? Tom A Who hates a fungus among us

05-03-2003, 07:01 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,866 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	Tom, I would suspect athletes foot powder might do the job. If I were in an area that had high humidity I would sew up some bags of crushed charcoal, baking soda or use a commercial dessicant. Mold cannot grow without moisture so keeping them dry is the key. I bought a wooden tortilla press in Mexico some time back and there were little wood boring worms infesting it. I put it in the oven at about 200 degrees for several hours...No more worms. I would guess one could do the same with a holster if you knew the temperature that would kill the mold but not harm the leather. 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."

05-03-2003, 09:16 PM	#4
wterrell User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,096 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Tom, Store them in a gun safe and install a de-humidifier in the vault with them. At one time, taxidermists used arsenic to preserve their mounts. __________________ Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo, wes --------------------

05-03-2003, 08:24 PM	#3
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Hello Old Paratrooper Bud, I am leary about applying heat to leather. Do you think that a lower temp, like 125 or so, would be effective? Also, humidity is a fact of life here in the DC 'burbs...so once I kill the ##@@%% spores, how do I make certain they STAY gone? Tom A.

05-03-2003, 09:21 PM	#5
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	If you know someone in the food spice business, a hospital sterilizing area, or some large metropolitan libraries, an ethylene oxide sterilizer is supposed to do a wonderful job. They are not home operations however (reproductive toxicant, carcinogen, and marvelously explosive. There may be some contract applications that could be accessed. Personally I like mothballs. heinz