Hydrophane oil-- return of the leather color?

[mertastic]

Restoring a beautiful '99 saddle, but it definitely has some faded color on it. Been looking at the hydrophane oil VS the hydrophane darkening oil (because apparently there is a difference?)

I don’t need it for conditioning agencies (I already have stuff for that), but more so get the color back to where it started. It’s a duo tone, and the most fade is on the brown so I don’t want to make it darker making it look black on black.

Here’s a photo:
https://68.media.tumblr.com/50eda11cda89c4be0020b3baf812202f/tumblr_okesx1bxcQ1roqz40o1_540.jpg

[merrygoround]

Hydrophane darkening oil will help a little but it will not completely restore the black. Your picture isn’t to helpful to one attempting to discern your problem.

Try it very carefully with a small brush.

[Velvet]

Don’t use darkening oil on medium or light browns. It will really darken those shades a lot. Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Neatsfoot oil, while it is a conditioner, will naturally darken browns to a deeper/richer color.

[Equibrit]

Hydrophane makes leather slick.

[Equibrit]

Weaver have a large range to chose from;
http://www.weaverleathersupply.com/catalog/ItemCatalogListing/001/49

[merrygoround]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;9025728]
Hydrophane makes leather slick.[/QUOTE]

Having used it or Flexalan for over 40 years, I have never had that problem.

[mertastic]

[QUOTE=Velvet;9025463]
Don’t use darkening oil on medium or light browns. It will really darken those shades a lot. Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Neatsfoot oil, while it is a conditioner, will naturally darken browns to a deeper/richer color.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the input! I’ve been conditioning it every day and the conditioner has brought ALOT of the color back although you can still see the fading. (it’s a little bit darker than in the photo I’ve provided now) I think I just will have to accept the fact that it probably will never be the same again and for an 18 year old used and abused saddle, it’s seriously not that bad.

[HunterMarc]

I think I might try this on my Antares to darken it up after reading all of this. I’ll try a small part under the flap first. Sounds as though after reading reviews it may take a little longer. What about darkening up an older black leather dressage saddle that has lightened up?

[shadedingray]

Have you considered re-dying the saddle? I know there’s quite a few people who have done that on this forum.