What have you found to be best for DARKENING strapgoods? I’m creating a frankenbridle, and one portion needs to get at least one shade darker!
I’ve heard that neatsfoot oil is supposed to be good for darkening but have never tried it. Could also check with your saddle fitter and/or the company that makes your bridle!
I’ve always heard Walsh Blue Ribbon oil, but have never tried it myself.
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Pure neatsfoot oil or Antares Oil. In recent years, I’ve used the Antares oil to darken stirrup leathers and new bridles and have been pleased with the results.
I have used Walsh’s Blue Ribbon for years, the best at darkening because it has a little bit of stain in it as well. You don’t have to over-oil to get more color, it darkens much more easily than other oils…
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My trainer uses a mix of neatsfoot and Fiebing’s hoof oil. 1:1 I think
I’ve had good results with Hydrophane darkening oil for matching strap goods or significantly darkening a saddle. It will take a few coats and the leather needs to be high enough quality than it can absorb it. If it has the plasticky coating all bets are off 
https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Hydrophane_Leather_Darkening_Oil_500_ML/descpage-HDO500.html
Be aware that Hydrophane has two similar products in nearly identical packaging. One is leather conditioning oil, which will slightly darken leather. The one you want to significantly darken is the “darkening oil”.
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Hydrophane!
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Walsh oil is the best for darkening
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Fiebings Prime Neatsfoot Compound (make sure it’s the compound — two different products have almost the same packaging) heated up and applied with a clean paint brush does a great job of darkening leather. It took my caramel Butet saddle to almost the dark cachou color.
Having used both Walsh and hydrophane, I vastly prefer the hydrophane. It darkens much better and more consistently. For strap goods, I use the ziploc bag method and get beautiful results.
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Hydrophane darkening, not plain hydrophane
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Keep it simple… Hydrophane!
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