I have a new buffalo leather saddle (havana color) that has suffered a bit of abuse. (Smith-Worthington)
Should I try and use leather dye to darken the scuff marks
on the cantel, top and back or just clean and condition?
I would try to clean and condition first. You might be surprised how much the scuff marks “blend in” after a few good cleanings. And I might try some leather darkening oil on the scuff marks (apply with something like a Qtip or tiny brush so you can get it ONLY on the scuff marks) if regular cleaning and conditioning doesn’t produce satisfactory results.
Yeah, start with a pure neatsfoot oil spread on with a finger, just over the scratches. They will blend in.
IME, buffalo has more natural oil in it than does cow hide. If you have never oiled the saddle, it might be “thirsty” for oil all around. But I’d have to see it or specific pictures to tell you. Just keep in mind that you’ll need less oiling always with that leather than with cow hide or calf. And you can over-oil leather. Hence the suggestion to just use oil on the scratches.
After that, I’d clean and then condition the whole thing. Cleaning and conditioning are two different things to me. And the conditioner you can choose will vary in terms of how much wax, glycerine and oil./fat it contains. IMO, you choose that based on the current “taste” of your leather. Leather likes a buffet of products… to be fed the particular thing it’s hungry for at the time.
[QUOTE=inca;7925507]
I would try to clean and condition first. You might be surprised how much the scuff marks “blend in” after a few good cleanings. And I might try some leather darkening oil on the scuff marks (apply with something like a Qtip or tiny brush so you can get it ONLY on the scuff marks) if regular cleaning and conditioning doesn’t produce satisfactory results.[/QUOTE]
agree. for really scuffy saddles (mine get pretty scuffy after a bristly ride) i use glycerin then belharra saddle soap then leather CPR… even the permanent scuffs dont’ show up for a few rides after.
