Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Does anyone still Mink Oil their boots?

I switched from neatsfoot to olive oil a few years ago for horse tack and anything else that needs to be oiled and supple. Not sure if it would be very effective for weatherproofing boots.

Ditto on the Obenaufs. Boots, belts , slings , knife sheaths and anything leather.

You're just a denier!

Get used on the LL Beans, hikers, and hunting boots also.....................since the 1970's for me.

Oil softens mine up too much and as someone else has noted, can rot stitching.

If I had some bear grease I'd mix that with some beeswax and be done with it too.

Gotta have a sign so some Californian wont step there......with his slippers.

Yard shoes dude, yard shoes.

They're not worn around the house.

Might have shickenpoop on them from the Gulag.

AKK "Sweet Oil” of the 18th century. I have available several types of oils and grease. None a petrochemical product. Do I still mink oil my footwear??? C’mon I occasionally hunt in braintan. I come up with some dandy concoctions for treating my Monroes and mocs.

Ever save any fat from a nice cow elk??

What the hell?

Snake boots for the living room?

Hip waders for high plain deserts?

Dog treats?

Snoseal is garbage... beeswax is the bomb!

Ballistol

Sno Seal is primarily.....................................beeswax



https://cdnimages.opentip.com/Docs/EQU/SNO-SEAL.pdf

No need to tell me, there are some petro distillates in it too.

What's in Obenauf's???..............................SDS says................trade secrets......................mmmmmnn?

Their website says beeswax and propolis and "natural leather conditioning oil", could that be????? Neatsfoot? Mineral oil? Vegetable oil?

Whatever "distillates" in SnoSeal are, they apparently evaporate/dissipate in the warm sun and just leave the wax.

I suppose I could just heat up that block of beeswax I've got out in the shop and try to apply it while still warm. But after having decent success with SnoSeal for 40+ years, I suppose I'll keep using it.

Suits my purposes. Of course, I don't live in AK. But it worked pretty good during the year I lived in SE. And the two years in NW PA, and the 8 years in Humboldt County (60" of rain there a year, not the 12" we have here).

I don't walk around in swamps or muskeg much, if I did I'd probably use some rubber boots and keep the leather ones at home.

The good thing about America................we can all choose how we wish.

Bbassi: Yes I use it from time to time on new boots and for conditioning older/used boots.
I am getting low in the tin of it though - I wonder if they still make it?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Question posed the custom holster makers, etc:

"Do you know of and recommend anything for veg tanned leather that I don't want to soften? Ie. vintage bridle leather and veg tanned belts and holsters that need to retain stiffness for functional support. I've ruined too many fine belts with oil more than neglect."

Weaver Leathercraft responded.
I was informed to use this on leather jackets. I haven't gotten a response about whether or not it softens boots, belts, and holsters.

PS: One custom holster Craftsman, one of the top who uses exotic hides too, recommends no leather treatment whatsoever other than wiping it off with a damp cloth if dirty. He doesn't speak to boots, but if they become very pliable, you lose support.

https://www.weaverleathersupply.com...eather-care/oil-conditioners/conditioner
I have no affiliation with them, but plan to buy this when I get around to it. The YouTube channel is beyond exceptional.

I'm a leatherworker (Tango_Alpha_Leather_Goods on Instagram if you want to see my work) and I find some of the responses here, umm, interesting.
I use 100% pure neatsfoot oil on most of my goods, along with olive oil on occasion if I'm in the house and don't want to go out to th he shop to get the neatsfoot oil.
I've used Obenauf's on my boots in the past, but it's some messy stuff. I may look into this Sno Seal stuff and see what it does and if it's any kind of miracle or not.

I've always used Sno Seal with good results.

I put my boots in the oven to heat them up then just rub it in. Once a year, usually beginning of winter.

Good to hear of your work.
Ill check that out.
I've had two issues with my good vintage bridle leather belts and a few other leather goods.
1. Mold during storage
2. What to use for holsters, belts and vegetable tanned leather that I want to retain stiffness but prevent dry rot.

Is neats foot oil the proper treatment for care/conditioning of those leathers?

Triggernosis,

Nice looking 1911 and revolver holsters.👍

I use a bowl wax.

I posted back around the beginning of the year when I was having trouble finding any mink oil.

Finally found a shop doing custom leather stuff that had it.

From dabbling with holster making I learned that the leather is molded to shape wet (with a plug or dummy).
Wax is then applied (impregnated into the leather) to help stiffen and retain shape
The wax should be towards the parifin end of the spectrum for more stiffness.

I think neetsfoot is for things you want to be flexible. I was taught to use it on the hinge of a baseball glove.

Lanolin is ok for shoes....and case lube.
The unique lube tin says you can use it on shoes too..

i use sno proof on my all leather footwear. it darkens the leather some but it makes it last a long time. i have a pair of rockies from 1996 that are still in good shape with a yearly coat.