SuzukiSavage.com - Waterproofing Leather

wolfmrp

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Waterproofing Leather
01/05/10 at 12:59:22

I recently redid my seat in leather and I am happy with the look and feel, but we just had a downpour while the bike was uncovered. The mink oil I used on the leather did not hold. The leather cover became a sponge. There is plastic between the leather and foam so I am not too concerned, but I need a better product to waterproof the leather. Any help is much appreciated.

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serenity3743 Serious Thumper Offline Striving to better, oft we mar what's well Posts: 778 Black Mountain, NC Gender:	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #1 - 01/05/10 at 13:15:22 Ya mean cows ain't waterproof?
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prechermike

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Re: Waterproofing Leather
Reply #2 - 01/05/10 at 13:25:48

Let me begin by saying: I have never done a motorcycle seat.

I have always used the cans of camp dry, silicone waterproofing spray stuff on my boots and such. Some of the boots were all leather, some had leather trim and were the nylon camo stuff. I have had very good results with that stuff. I have also sprayed coats that were the canvas duck material. brown hunting coats.

That has worked for me.

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LANCER

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Re: Waterproofing Leather
Reply #3 - 01/05/10 at 14:51:52

The old movies about the mountain men who lived in the Rockies all winter trapping beaver and such, always used bear grease to rub in to leather in order to make it water proof. Indians used it too ... they were probably the ones who taught the mountain men how to do it.

Now all you have to do is take your Davy Crockett knife in to the woods and find a bear. Grin

Let us know when you're done with that project. Cheesy

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #4 - 01/05/10 at 15:03:03 Deer brain will waterproof it. My kid wiped some on the sidewalk & that spot didnt get wet for almost a year. & it was right under where the water came down off the roof. Deer brain is used in tanning, too, So, if ya get some leather tanned that way, maybe its waterproof already? BTW, it needs to be raw, not cooked.
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BurnPgh

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Re: Waterproofing Leather
Reply #5 - 01/05/10 at 15:14:11

LANCER wrote on 01/05/10 at 14:51:52:

The old movies about the mountain men who lived in the Rockies all winter trapping beaver and such, always used bear grease to rub in to leather in order to make it water proof. Indians used it too ... they were probably the ones who taught the mountain men how to do it.

Now all you have to do is take your Davy Crockett knife in to the woods and find a bear. Grin

Let us know when you're done with that project. Cheesy

bacon grease maybe?

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Oldnewguy Senior Member Offline thumpin' along! Posts: 369 Upstate NY Gender:	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #6 - 01/05/10 at 15:28:13 Whatever you use, don't forget that you have to sit on it.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #7 - 01/05/10 at 16:03:45 Shoe department in stores have stuff for leather I think the is a saddle soap too that good for that.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #8 - 01/05/10 at 16:18:26 I know thers not enough mink oil to keep a rain from driving right thru my chaps.
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buttgoat1 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1042	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #9 - 01/05/10 at 17:46:37 Silicone would probably be the easiest but I have to wonder if the silicone won't make it too slippery for seat usage. I wonder what the magic ingredient in deer brains is?
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28637 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #10 - 01/05/10 at 18:20:02 Oldnewguy wrote on 01/05/10 at 15:28:13: Whatever you use, don't forget that you have to sit on it. Oldnewguy has a point... Whatever you coat your seat with will also be on your pants.... (definitely want to avoid deer brains on your pants).... Have you considered a plastic seat cover?... maybe a shower cap?...
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JohnBoy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 825 Gender:	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #11 - 01/05/10 at 18:33:41 Quote: bacon grease maybe? The neighbor's dog will love that! Yummm-o!!!
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prechermike

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Re: Waterproofing Leather
Reply #12 - 01/05/10 at 18:36:43

buttgoat1 wrote on 01/05/10 at 17:46:37:

Silicone would probably be the easiest but I have to wonder if the silicone won't make it too slippery for seat usage.
I wonder what the magic ingredient in deer brains is?

Definitely need to be careful about the slippery issue. My dad once armour all-ed his four wheeler seat. Not a good thing.

The stuff I use on my boots does not apear to be slippery, but then I don't usually walk on the tops of them. Wink

Of course read the directions and "test on ain inconspicuous spot first"

Do let us know what you do and how it works.

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2006, HD pipe, Tkat fork brace, elkhide handgrips, gel seat w/riser, silverblue, Ed L's forward controls, Wristwatch, biblethumper650@gmail.com

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wolfmrp Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 259 Portland Or	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #13 - 01/05/10 at 21:22:14 Thanks for the fast response everyone. I need to pull the seat inside and let it dry for a while. I will update when it is dry enough to apply something. I think I will try for the dear before the bear or maybe I am just being overly cautious.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28637 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Waterproofing Leather Reply #14 - 01/05/10 at 21:28:03 Quote: I think I will try for the dear before the bear or maybe I am just being overly cautious. Grin ....???dear before the bear???.... Have a beer before you kill your dear..... maybe offer her a last one too...
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