FINALLY! A Better Way To Restore Leather 

Get your Obenauf's here: amzn.to/2KDtkdR (this link will direct you to my amazon affiliate page)

Since my first paying job, I have always considered how many hours I must work in order to pay for something. It's a crazy habit that has led me to better financial decisions and less buyer's remorse.

your grandfather said " you dont want wet feet or a cold shoulder" keep in mind in his days people really cared about how other people perceived them. people were taught the importance of honor and truths and trust. if you got " the cold shoulder " you lost their trust and every chance to fix that .

I apply a heavy coat of paste bee's wax to my suede work boots, then bake them in my oven at 200 degrees for 10 minutes. The heat opens the pores in the leather and melts the wax for a deep penetration. This way I only have to apply the wax once a season. This way was taught to me by a family friend when I was a kid, It works great every time.

One of my favorite things I used to do for my husband was washing his fatigues and shining his shoes. I started starched all of his fatigues and iron them exactly the way the Air Force required. I love the smell of the shoeshine and using that kit for shining his black leather shoes! Those were some of the great times of our life together! My husband was stationed in Mountain Home Air Force Base Idaho. We were so young. This is also when I took up running before it was fashionable for women to do. I just developed a joy inside of me and it was peaceful running around this small town. My love of running might be like Mrs.W. Only difference is she is much better than I was. I never kept track of how far I ran. I don’t think I ever shared this with my husband at that time. But it was just as much fun as taking care of my husband and me staying home and we started our young family in this Military place. Just like memories of your grandad. I have very vivid memories of my life in a safe place. Life seemed so simple and no worries...Thank you for a simple ways to take care of leather for keeping things reserved for future generations. And way more affordable with simple steps. The extra money could be spent on getting the extra food we might need in an emergency! Food for thought folks! 👍

I love snow seal. That stuff is by far the best leather waterproofing there is. Of course it's good to know that it will darken your leather quite a bit.

“Calceus = Dress shoe or shoe/boot” It’s a word from Ancient Rome.

I've been a leathersmith for 40 years. I started at 13 when I needed a left handed knife sheath. I used an old pair of cowboy boots and my dad's collection of leather working tools. He taught high school woodshop, metalshop and leather working fell in the middle somehow. I still have and use his tools. Neetsfoot oil has always been my go to but I'm going to pick up some Obenauf's and give it a try. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and God bless.

I just realized that we haven’t seen the tractor in a while, did you have to send it back?

I use Obenaufs on everything. Boots. Sheaths. Throw some in the beard... Hand cream during winter. Honestly never had smoother hands during a Prairie winter since I started doing that. Be careful around the belt holes and boot eyelets. You don't wanna make the leather so soft it stretches and pulls out in those spots.

I’ve made my own. Neats foot oil or mineral oil is a great mix with pure beeswax. 50/50 does great for most things I think. Mineral oil for the kitchen wood and neats foot for outdoors tools

15:41 I would warn that it depends what kind of leather your gloves are made of will affect what happens to them if you oil them. Cowhide, goat hide, elk, moose, and bison are all tough wearing leathers, so they will work well, whereas pigskin, carpincho, any suede, lambskin, peccary, or sheepskin are naturally soft and will be ruined by oils.

I like how you always bring up your pop in the videos, i just restored my great grandfathers wood shed, it was in bad shape but i finally got the money to bring it back to life, most people would of tore it down but its special to me, just a spot to hang and light the woodstove with the boys now

I wish it would rain here on eastern Australia. We're in serious serious drought and have fires burning all down the coast. Please pray for us and all the poor animals

Leather grease mixed with beeswax is all you need. Every now and then I mix in some pine tar to prevent rot. A rag and water is all I use for cleaning. I do t about once a week at least depending on the weather.

Love this video. I bought a good horsehair shoe brush over 40 year ago and stilluse it today. I also ended up with my grandad's brush when he passed away. That brush is probably at leasr 80 years old. Nothing better for buffing leather shoes.

You should try mink oil. It works really well for weatherproofing. It does need to be reapplied about once a week if you are working out in the wet constantly

Grandad's rifle sling deserves its own glass case and plaque, let's build a cool one

Great video. I’m a leather crafter and a huge fan of mink oil. Preserves, hydrates and provides water resistance (and it smells good too!)

The opening title of this video said “modern homesteasing”

My ex left me for a man that has a small Hatchet

I've lost count of how much money I've spent after watching your videos. I have to say though that I love my Nicks boots and only use Obenauf's products to keep them looking new and fresh. Thanks for all of the wonderful videos you have created for us.

Hi Cody, don't forget the edges of the leather!

Thank you Cody, I use Obenauf's too on my boots, with mixed results. Have not found better yet still looking. I used to use Sno-seal and I liked it.

Cold shoulder is something you get from the wife or girlfriend when you go out fishing or hunting without permission.... its much worse then a wet foot.

I found Obenauf's and really like the smell. I can't believe how much it softens up leather. I have always been a snowseal guy. It works great on my boots but it stinks! Smells like petrolium stuff. So when I needed to do work on some motorcycle gear I didn't want the stink. Obenauf's smells nice. And it feels great on my hands. Felt slightly sticky at first but seems to have soaked in all the way after a bit. So far I have done jacket, boots gloves and a few sets of shoes. I am doing another jacket with it next.

Thank you Obenauf's for being real generous 🎄🎅🦌☃️

if temperature is a factor wouldn't it of been better to film in the wood shop?

I think your grandfather was right. Cold feet ends your day pretty quickly...and the "cold shoulder"?...well, that one usually comes with an upset wife, and we all know, we don't want that. You know what "they" say. Happy wife, happy life. I like your suggestions, I watch many of your videos to get ideas I may not have. Like you, I have to thank my late father, grandfather and other elders. I've learned a lot from them. The greatest loss when they pass away is all their acquired knowledge as well as their company. So thanks for sharing what you have learned. I use Obenauf's as well, but I'm always open for suggestions. Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Used to watch my dad shine his cowboy boots before church all the time, back when I was younger.

Thank you so much, God Bless you Sir 🇺🇸

Cody I was just waiting for you to spill the oil. :p Great video. I grew up on a ranch and leather care was a weekly task. It was very therapeutic.

'Ballistol Oil' is also very good to treat leather items with as it keeps the leather supple and does not leave a residue over time as some other heavier waxes or polishes do.

Never heard if Obenaufs... but have used Neatsfoot Oil for various leather applications... also love using Balistol for tools & guns... great for metal, wood, rubber, plastic, leather... lubricates, preserves, and protects... can't seem to ever find anything locally anymore, so I order most stuff from Amazon because there really is no other choice these days !

I have my pawpaws old 22 mag belt and holster and his colt 22 mag it’s a nice one I just put saddle soap on it about a month ago

Been using Obenauf's for about 4 years now, thanks to you telling us about it.

I’ve used mink oil from a can for “waterproofing” and softening. Not sure if that’s still a thing or not.

I remember the Obenauf give a way video...wow that was a bit ago. I remember because I never received it....but I have since gone through two bottles of the oil. That stuff is amazing and it smells so good!

Glycerin from a Drug Store. Usually, it's made out of vegetables, but it's a super-effective, 100% natural moisturizer, and does a fine job on old leather goods, like holsters. Put it on and let it dry before sealing with beeswax or Obenauf's.

I appreciate your videos. You’ve taught me a thing or two, especially on tool maintenance. Thank you.

Cant beat leather, just in the process of making my father a leather tobacco pouch and i love working with it. Theres about 8hours work into it so far and cant wait to give it to him. Great video👍

I have 2 cans of sno seal on my workbench. That and neatsfoot oil is all I've ever used.

It's been an early winter in Colorado but we've been blessed with gorgeous weather in between

I follow your channel on my Apple iPad, not a laptop. As a result, I cannot access my members’ only content since it is not supported on IOS. Disappointing but I still keep up my membership to help the channel. Keep on providing the best content available on RU-vid.

Good to be a WS member! Obenouf is where it is at! Warming things up ahead of time is a good tip! Thx as always for the great content!

We used Sno Seal on ski boots when I was a child, back when the boots for downhill skiing were leather, so I continued to use it on my cross-country shoes and on all leather exposed to winter weather. As a rush hack when there wasn't an extra warm area to warm up the leather, I used a portable hair dryer after applying the Sno Seal, to help soak it in (would have usedca heat gun on low heat if I had one). We used neat's foot oil on leather used in sports.

Oil my Red Wings every couple weeks and do a full clean and restore about twice a year. Take care of you leather and it can last you for decades if not generations.

Cody, I've always known the smaller knife in a set to be the caping knife used for detail work when skinning the skull to have it mounted. Great work and God bless

Good stuff!! Like your granddad and my dad said; take care of all your tools and your tools will take care of you!!

I'm going to use this to restore an old Romanian leather AK sling for use on an SKS rifle. It was date stamped 1972 and is still flexible, but the grain scratches easily. Should work great!

Weather is has gone from 22˚ to 80˚ in one day. Central Texas just can't make predictable weather!

I've been using Bick 4 Leather Conditioner on western boots. Good stuff.

I have a Swedish axe I 2as looking at reconditioning, thanks for the idea and tips, I think I'll get a kiwi kit and try my luck lol, might use some recoloring paste too, just to get it to pop back to life, that small forest axe goes everywhere with me

Love the mtn hardware/ arcteryx hybrid :)

I used to shine my dad’s shoes in the 60’s because... that’s what I had to do to help. I learned about “spit shine” and still use it to this day. Can you imagine a kid being made to shine his dad’s shoes these days? I still use that as a lesson to my clients. Thanks one more time Cody.

I've been using murray's beeswax on my leather products for years it's actually a petroleum-based hair/skin product but it works great at conditioning and protecting leather

Love my filson saddle leather belt. Thanks for the tips on how to keep her clean.

I have the exact sling on my great grandads 1915 30-40 Kraig, my great grandad brought it back from Europe from WW1 in 1918 and it’s been in the family ever since my great grandad, grandad, and now me have been hunting with it since 1918. It still knocks out whitetail like nothing else. Recent the strap started cracking and I’m really upset. I’m hoping to find an identical one here soon!

Thanks for the recommendation to use Obenauf's, I will have to try some!

I have an old leather scabbard for a hunting knife - cracked and stiff. The knife no longer fits all the way in. Any suggestions for bringing it back up to standard? Thanks.

I make leather gear by hand. Knife sheaths, notebooks covers, belts, holsters, axe head covers, rifle stock cartridge carriers, wallets, purses, police duty gear, slings, earrings…. Just about everything. I’ve used obenaufs for longer than I’ve made things from leather.

Red Wing leather cream will restore dry leather without really darkening it or adding shine. Its outstanding!

Thank you for sharing your love for the beautiful natural things in life. Though I'm not 'a guy' I do wear combat boots-vintage jump boots to be specific-every single day. The only thing better than vintage and antique boots is being barefoot, which I try to be as often as humanly possible. Nothing beats bare toes buried in the earth!! I live in Minneapolis and have worked on the loading dock at the Star Tribune for exactly a year now. The damage done to the leather of my boots in just 6-8 months was that of Two especially salted Minnesota icy winters! The boots I have been wearing for the past 10 years are later than the Vietnam and earlier I prefer and I've found that I can only get about 14 months of use out of the 'newer' military issued boots before they crack open at the edges of the toes at the eyelet strip. Finding military issued jump boots in my exact size is quite difficult being a female with a size 7-7 1/2 foot. In a man's world that translates to barely pubescent in foot size, so there weren't too many made. The pair that the 26 years of newspaper dust, dirt and truck exhaust completely destroyed had fit like a glove for the first time since I started wearing them 32 years ago. I did Everything I could to stop this the moment I saw that the creases even had Potential to become cracks. I have always maintained my boots well and well before I started the organic skincare company I had, I had researched the best possible ingredients for leather conditioner. I came up with one based upon bees wax that I've been using in a repurposed saddle soap tin. I'd come home every morning around 3 am and brush off my boots thoroughly and massage in my protectant every time. I also switched it up with pure neatsfoot oil. Nothing helped and the cracks turned into gaping holes that will require patches to be repaired. Where have I gone wrong here? The bulk of this time was outside winter so no salt from the streets. I'd greatly appreciate your advice. Thanks for reading!!

A cold shoulder refers to adhesive capsulitis or what is more commonly called "frozen shoulder". It hurts like heck which causes you to limit the range of motion which further causes it to get stiff which further causes you to limit the range of motion which....well you get the idea. Good news is that usually it's self-limiting and will eventually go away. Catching up on your vids. Hope all is well.

I have been using Hubbards shoe grease on my work boots lately. I got it from BI-MART after using some my uncle had. But also use a few others mostly mink oil and saddle soap.

I use some kind of beeswax on my motorcycle seat. After I got done treating it bees were very interested in my motorcycle it was pretty funny to watch them flying around and land on the seat investigating it.

Recently just found this channel. I am hooked and enjoy all the content so far. Thanks alot!

Thanks Cody,good info here,made me think about putting together a leather care kit since we are getting our own "modern homesteading" dream going and will be getting lots of leather goods from my boots to tool covers and whatnot. GI Joes takes me back being a mossback originally from Washington state and now living down in Arkansas.

There's a product called "Leather CPR" I found at a saddle repair shop that works great also. If y'all ever get some leather that may seem too far gone, try this before you give up completely.

I bought that stuff a while back when you showed how to treat boots. It is great!

At 9:25 I have that exact same pixie knife but a box of 10 as a kitchen set.

Cody What are your thoughts on using a heat gun or hair dryer (just don't tell the missus) to warm the leather and/or oil before and during application?

Cody can you please review the IKEA FIXA 17-piece tool set!!

proprietary formula which has no ingredients specifically listed other than beeswax: it makes great chapstick LMAO.

Who made your belt? Thank you.

Years ago I remember you recommended the Obenhaufs and even applying it to your lips and I got some and I still have the original can and recommended it to friends and they like it too. I use it and a few other products too. I always wipe down with a wet rag whatever I am going to apply it to the next day and this way when I start, the leather is already as dust free as possible.

I remember my dad taking care of his Red Wing boots every weekend after working on construction sites all week. I took that same care with my Army boots when we still had the black leather ones.

I've had the same pair of Chippewah boots since 2008. I dont wear them daily, I wear 50 dollar walmart steel toes primarily, but even when I take care of them, those last 2 to 3 years before the stitching gives out. I oil my gloves usually once every month, unless I was working in the rain, than once a week if its a rainy week, and my belt usually twice a year is enough. I've had this same belt for probably 15 years now too. Im the same way about leather, when it comes to holding things. I have a leather zippo pouch always on my belt, next to the leather sheath holding my multi tool. Sometimes, I will even carry an old leather ammo pouch to hold items I dont want crushed or lost in my pockets...like 22lrs, or my herbal medication and a small pipe with a bic. I will always choose leather, wood, and metal-over plastic, nylon, and fiberglass.

A new Wranglerstar. My day is complete.

How it came about and why there are the way they are. Well put. I also enjoy this train of thought.

Now a days we go threw a pair of boots every 6 months to a year but nothing wrong with keeping a nice black leather pair of shoes or boots shined up for being formal if you have too

I like to lightly oil or polish the leather then rub Sno Seal on it and stick it in front of an open oven on low or a fireplace for a few mins to melt it and let the leather soak it in. Finish with a brush. Wearing the same boots every day for 12 years now, and my hunting knife sheath was made in 1970.

Well up here in Ottawa Ontario Canada I love and respect you and your channel God bless you and your family.

I can see where the Oil would be more advantageous than the Heavy LP when trying to work it in around rivets, fittings, and such... I've used heavy LP on all my leather and have found getting the areas around fittings (particularly on my La Sportiva mountaineering boots around the rivets where rot can lead to a catastrophic failure) sufficiently is a bit of a pain... usually I would heat it, glob in on rub it in, reheat it until I was certain I got it good. Heck, I might just do things the way I do on the large areas and just use the oil around the fittings... I just did my sheaths and remember my boots are due...

I got some of this and it did wonders for my baseball gloves

I was always under the impression that the soles on your boots had compressed after a year and that you should have them resoled or get new ones so that you aren’t shock loading your feet

Hey Cody, What’s causing the green hue in the background behind your bench? No big deal, just curious 😃

Does anyone else feel up their leather steering wheel when sitting in traffic?

Does it add strength to the leather that might have been lost from drying out?

I just ordered some Obenaufs!

Here’s a drinking game for ya... a shot every time he says “grandad”....

I used dish soap to wash and scrub the grime and dirt off my leather boots, then applied a nice layer of minx oil. Seemed to protect add a nice shine

dublin water proof polish is the go to in australia

“Cold Shoulder” as in from your girl, meaning that as far as things are going “your done”

I have an old belt knife and sheath that was my dads and I have been looking for something to restore the sheath with

Yes it’s gotten cold here for me!

I've been trying to find a way to clean a leather sheath, I wonder if this could apply?

I have been using Obenhaulf's since 2009. Cabelas recommended it when purchasing German-Made Meindl boots years before Cody was speaking on it. It is the only leather protectant I have used since that time. I highly recommend it.

If you have leather seats in your car should those have oil also? And how often?

we enjoyed your tutorial on leather care . obenaufs is a good product . we remember the good old days when there were many cobblers about , there;s nothing more comfortable than a nice pair of shined broken in leather shoes . thanks for your insight . blessings to your family.