Holster preservatives in the Deep humid South?

StarOfTheWest · 06-27-2017, 09:38 PM

Hello again friends!
We have spent the last three days cleaning and oiling the Lugers, and are now faced with 2 or 3 large boxes of the holsters. What is the current recommendation on preservatives and maintenance, please? Back in 2009 or so, some good folks from this forum came out and appraised the leather for us. There's a scary amount of value sitting there when we totaled it all up. How can I keep them alive? East Texas climate, they're in AC, but it gets very humid here.

lugerholsterrepair · 06-27-2017, 09:42 PM

Anna, You may want to do a search..on both this Forum and Jan Stills. There have been thousands of words already written on this interesting important subject. I wrote a lot lot of them but there are other interesting opinions.

DonVoigt · 06-27-2017, 10:34 PM

It would help to know what shape they are in now.

lugerholsterrepair · 06-27-2017, 10:45 PM

Back in 2009 or so? Yes Don..a very astute question!

cirelaw · 06-28-2017, 12:12 AM

Simple, Renaissance micro-crystalline wax polish, Amazon has it https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...d=N57FEMVGUBKX

StarOfTheWest · 06-28-2017, 09:30 AM

Thanks Eric. They're in fine shape now, amazingly enough. I was hoping for a simple answer, as I knew a search would bring up many and varied suggestions. Looking for simple right now.

Many thanks.

Edward Tinker · 06-28-2017, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarOfTheWest

Thanks Eric. They're in fine shape now, amazingly enough. I was hoping for a simple answer, as I knew a search would bring up many and varied suggestions. Looking for simple right now.

Many thanks.

no offense, but here at the forum, we get bombarded with ''simple questions'' - that equals, i don't want to do any damn searches for myself

I use Connolys for my leather, if you want to clean them, use saddle soap, then connolys

don't use pecards, its too thick and greasy, don't use mink oil etc, it breaks down the leather

DonVoigt · 06-28-2017, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarOfTheWest

Thanks Eric. They're in fine shape now, amazingly enough. I was hoping for a simple answer, as I knew a search would bring up many and varied suggestions. Looking for simple right now.

Many thanks.

Sorry,
but there is no "simple answer" to leather care- everyone has an opinion and does it differently.

The best care is to store them in the dark, with humidity controlled to +/-50%, and temperature held constant around 70 degrees F- IF they are in good shape, I'd leave them alone.

AND that is Just my opinion.

StarOfTheWest · 06-28-2017, 10:33 AM

Thanks gentlemen. I appreciate your time in answering. And you're right, post-stroke, I didn't want to do any damned research and hunting. I was hoping perhaps some newer products might have been found by now. For the guns, I've stuck with Hoppes gun oil for a long time. I thought there might be an equally reliable solution for the leather. Again, sorry to appear "lazy".

lugerholsterrepair · 06-28-2017, 02:32 PM

The simple answer to going to the bathroom is to pee your pants. Simple is not always the best way to go...

StarOfTheWest · 06-28-2017, 03:03 PM

I'm so glad that the moderators here refuse to lower themselves to being snarky. Bless your heart and have a great day, Jerry.

lugerholsterrepair · 06-28-2017, 03:30 PM

Anna, Well I thought you said you were from the deep South? What you call snarky I call humorous. It makes my point. Simple can be as wrong as right. I love Eric like a Brother but I don't think the simple answer to leather preservation in humid Texas is as simple as Renaissance Wax.
Don above has some good advice..Back in 2009 or so was the last time you closely inspected this leather and it has not changed in 8 years you are doing something right. Storage condition, moisture, light and temperature is always the first defense. If your leather has not molded in all this time then conditions are ideal. You might want to take a strong light and look inside each one for ANY signs of white spots or abnormal growth of fuzz.
If nothing like this exists..just keep doing what your doing.

I can empathize with a stroke..I had a very small one 5-6 years ago. Unexpected, unwanted and dibilitating for a time. I never want another! I can see where one could be life changing. Thankfully in my case in a couple of months everything was back to normal. I hope you have the same good fortune as myself.

I AM blessed thank you..but almost everyone I meet almost anywhere I go and at anytime... people I meet wish me a good day..I am beginning to wonder if that saying has not morphed into a common platitude? Something to say to appear to be nice when they really don't give a damn what the rest of my day is like? Do you ever wonder that?

cirelaw · 06-28-2017, 03:39 PM

You yourself have saved my leather butt over the years!

cirelaw · 06-28-2017, 04:11 PM

Jerry like you I love everyday! In my case it was a 'Stroke Of Luck' to have Debby by my side for over 6 months. She would bring me a chocolate shake and hook me up to my Sony Walkman that woke me up!!

DonVoigt · 06-28-2017, 05:02 PM

I think "have a nice day" is something like "bless your heart".

Edward Tinker · 06-28-2017, 05:10 PM

Besides suggesting doing some searching, I thought I gave you the proper advice.

If it looks okay, use Connolys or nothing. Connolys will slightly darken the leather, but it is the most natural to use.

lugerholsterrepair · 06-28-2017, 05:42 PM

Ed is correct..Almost every holster that comes and goes through the shop I treat the flexible parts with lanolin. Hinge, top of the belt loops, closure strap..things like that. Also any dry areas..but inspection often and storage are where you start.

cirelaw · 06-28-2017, 06:05 PM

I also keep a white cotton sock inside to hold its shape!

DonVoigt · 06-29-2017, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

Ed is correct..Almost every holster that comes and goes through the shop I treat the flexible parts with lanolin. Hinge, top of the belt loops, closure strap..things like that. Also any dry areas..but inspection often and storage are where you start.

Jerry likes lanolin, ergo "I" like it too.

Bought an 8oz tub on ebay, pure lanolin- lots of offers in various sizes. About as "natrual" as one can get!

Mac Cat · 06-29-2017, 11:07 AM

Handsome collection of leather holsters !
Thanks for sharing them.

If you can keep your house humidity 40-60 %, you should be fine storing them just about anywhere.

I don't recommend a safe unless it's quite large - not enough air circulation.

A locked cabinet should work fine. Don't keep guns in them. You can by desiccants for closets in large boxes at local stores, if you need to, but I just keep a low wattage light bulb in the cabinet. it raises the temp slightly, but enough to prevent condensation. A tiny computer fan is a good way to keep your cabinet air moving around.

Bulky old sports socks are great for gun covers and holster padding.

06-27-2017, 09:38 PM	#1
StarOfTheWest User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Texas, CSA Posts: 208 Thanks: 81 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Holster preservatives in the Deep humid South? Hello again friends! We have spent the last three days cleaning and oiling the Lugers, and are now faced with 2 or 3 large boxes of the holsters. What is the current recommendation on preservatives and maintenance, please? Back in 2009 or so, some good folks from this forum came out and appraised the leather for us. There's a scary amount of value sitting there when we totaled it all up. How can I keep them alive? East Texas climate, they're in AC, but it gets very humid here. __________________ Sorry, I take that back. I have no problem with the horse you rode in on.

06-27-2017, 09:42 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Anna, You may want to do a search..on both this Forum and Jan Stills. There have been thousands of words already written on this interesting important subject. I wrote a lot lot of them but there are other interesting opinions. __________________ 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."

06-27-2017, 10:34 PM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	It would help to know what shape they are in now. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

06-27-2017, 10:45 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Back in 2009 or so? Yes Don..a very astute question! __________________ 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."

06-28-2017, 12:12 AM	#5
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Simple, Renaissance micro-crystalline wax polish, Amazon has it https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...d=N57FEMVGUBKX Attached Thumbnails

06-28-2017, 09:30 AM	#6
StarOfTheWest User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Texas, CSA Posts: 208 Thanks: 81 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Thanks Eric. They're in fine shape now, amazingly enough. I was hoping for a simple answer, as I knew a search would bring up many and varied suggestions. Looking for simple right now. Many thanks. __________________ Sorry, I take that back. I have no problem with the horse you rode in on.

06-28-2017, 10:33 AM	#9
StarOfTheWest User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Texas, CSA Posts: 208 Thanks: 81 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Thanks gentlemen. I appreciate your time in answering. And you're right, post-stroke, I didn't want to do any damned research and hunting. I was hoping perhaps some newer products might have been found by now. For the guns, I've stuck with Hoppes gun oil for a long time. I thought there might be an equally reliable solution for the leather. Again, sorry to appear "lazy". __________________ Sorry, I take that back. I have no problem with the horse you rode in on.

06-28-2017, 02:32 PM	#10
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	The simple answer to going to the bathroom is to pee your pants. Simple is not always the best way to go... __________________ 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."

06-28-2017, 03:03 PM	#11
StarOfTheWest User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Texas, CSA Posts: 208 Thanks: 81 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	I'm so glad that the moderators here refuse to lower themselves to being snarky. Bless your heart and have a great day, Jerry. __________________ Sorry, I take that back. I have no problem with the horse you rode in on.

06-28-2017, 03:30 PM	#12
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Anna, Well I thought you said you were from the deep South? What you call snarky I call humorous. It makes my point. Simple can be as wrong as right. I love Eric like a Brother but I don't think the simple answer to leather preservation in humid Texas is as simple as Renaissance Wax. Don above has some good advice..Back in 2009 or so was the last time you closely inspected this leather and it has not changed in 8 years you are doing something right. Storage condition, moisture, light and temperature is always the first defense. If your leather has not molded in all this time then conditions are ideal. You might want to take a strong light and look inside each one for ANY signs of white spots or abnormal growth of fuzz. If nothing like this exists..just keep doing what your doing. I can empathize with a stroke..I had a very small one 5-6 years ago. Unexpected, unwanted and dibilitating for a time. I never want another! I can see where one could be life changing. Thankfully in my case in a couple of months everything was back to normal. I hope you have the same good fortune as myself. I AM blessed thank you..but almost everyone I meet almost anywhere I go and at anytime... people I meet wish me a good day..I am beginning to wonder if that saying has not morphed into a common platitude? Something to say to appear to be nice when they really don't give a damn what the rest of my day is like? Do you ever wonder that? __________________ 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."

06-28-2017, 03:39 PM	#13
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Thank You Jerry~ You yourself have saved my leather butt over the years! Attached Thumbnails

06-28-2017, 04:11 PM	#14
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Jerry like you I love everyday! In my case it was a 'Stroke Of Luck' to have Debby by my side for over 6 months. She would bring me a chocolate shake and hook me up to my Sony Walkman that woke me up!!

06-28-2017, 05:02 PM	#15
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	I think "have a nice day" is something like "bless your heart". __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

06-28-2017, 05:10 PM	#16
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	Besides suggesting doing some searching, I thought I gave you the proper advice. If it looks okay, use Connolys or nothing. Connolys will slightly darken the leather, but it is the most natural to use.

06-28-2017, 05:42 PM	#17
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Ed is correct..Almost every holster that comes and goes through the shop I treat the flexible parts with lanolin. Hinge, top of the belt loops, closure strap..things like that. Also any dry areas..but inspection often and storage are where you start. __________________ 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."

06-28-2017, 06:05 PM	#18
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	I also keep a white cotton sock inside to hold its shape!

06-29-2017, 11:07 AM	#20
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 730 Thanks: 2,093 Thanked 609 Times in 329 Posts	Handsome collection of leather holsters ! Thanks for sharing them. If you can keep your house humidity 40-60 %, you should be fine storing them just about anywhere. I don't recommend a safe unless it's quite large - not enough air circulation. A locked cabinet should work fine. Don't keep guns in them. You can by desiccants for closets in large boxes at local stores, if you need to, but I just keep a low wattage light bulb in the cabinet. it raises the temp slightly, but enough to prevent condensation. A tiny computer fan is a good way to keep your cabinet air moving around. Bulky old sports socks are great for gun covers and holster padding.