Opinions Needed. Considering The Works of Neatsfoot Oil...

4hooves4me2 · 04-02-2008, 06:42 PM

It means...my saddle should be falling apart if Neatsfoot is so hard on them. lol!

The dying process you have to be very careful with, or you can end up with overload, and then you will have to try to 'pull' it back out.

Personally, I would oil it, and oil it, it is going to age as well, it won't be long it will be a match for your saddle I don't think.

EmazingCasper · 04-02-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4hooves4me2

It means...my saddle should be falling apart if Neatsfoot is so hard on them. lol!

The dying process you have to be very careful with, or you can end up with overload, and then you will have to try to 'pull' it back out.

Personally, I would oil it, and oil it, it is going to age as well, it won't be long it will be a match for your saddle I don't think.

so you think it's going to be fairly easy to match then? LOL today my brain isn't functioning like it should, and I like people to lay things flat out for me, so I don't mess things up. HAHA

pinevalley · 04-02-2008, 07:41 PM

I agree with the others about darkening it with oil. Light oil leather WILL darken over time to probably be perfect to match your saddle due to exposure to light, even indirect, but your saddle will darken with use too...

You will NEVER find that absolute perfect headstall by ordering online or in a catalog, the only assurance is to physically take your saddle to a tack shop and finding one off the rack to match! Due to lighting in photographs and computer monitors, if you order one, you may have to return it if the color is off. Decision is ultimately yours, if it was me I would shop locally.

luttrellfarms · 04-02-2008, 08:13 PM

Most of the time either using oil or dyeing does not work great without roughing up the leather a little with steel wool or fine sandpaper. I know that you probably would not want to do this. Oiling will darken and putting it in the sun will darken it. If you decide to go either way, it is very important to add small amounts evenly over the entire thing and let dry completely before adding more. Trying to get the desired color in one application usually results in dark spots where you overlap. It is very difficult to get the exact color. May happen the first time and may not. If you are really wanting it exact and any shade off will be a problem, you probably need to shop around until you find the exact shade. It is often difficult to get the same shade when making tack.

EmazingCasper · 04-02-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinevalley

I agree with the others about darkening it with oil. Light oil leather WILL darken over time to probably be perfect to match your saddle due to exposure to light, even indirect, but your saddle will darken with use too...

You will NEVER find that absolute perfect headstall by ordering online or in a catalog, the only assurance is to physically take your saddle to a tack shop and finding one off the rack to match! Due to lighting in photographs and computer monitors, if you order one, you may have to return it if the color is off. Decision is ultimately yours, if it was me I would shop locally.

I think I am going to shop around here more and see, but there really isn't anything.

However, I need the headstall to be "darkened" before my show in may, early may.

EmazingCasper · 04-02-2008, 08:18 PM

Do you guys think this headstall with the point browband, would match my saddle better? (the picture to the right!)

http://www.fourwinds.net/westcat/jt1833.html

pinevalley · 04-03-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmazingCasper

Do you guys think this headstall with the point browband, would match my saddle better? (the picture to the right!)

http://www.fourwinds.net/westcat/jt1833.html

Once again it is hard to say, it looks way off on my monitor almost to the point of being orange...

EmazingCasper · 04-03-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinevalley

Once again it is hard to say, it looks way off on my monitor almost to the point of being orange...

Well it looks more towards the honey light oil color that saddle is.

Heavenly Jumper · 04-03-2008, 09:51 AM

The 'ruining the stitching' thing is an old deal. From back when they used cotton thread. Now they use synthetics, so no worries.

I got my neatsfoot oil from a tractor supply store.

If you do one coat and it's not right...wait a day and do another...until it is dark enough.

CowGirlUp1833 · 04-03-2008, 10:04 AM

I used neatsfoot or mink oil on all my tack and it keeps it in wonderful condition...

04-02-2008, 06:42 PM	#11
4hooves4me2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: INDIANA, about 1 hour W. of Indianapolis. Posts: 2,523 Images: 119	It means...my saddle should be falling apart if Neatsfoot is so hard on them. lol! The dying process you have to be very careful with, or you can end up with overload, and then you will have to try to 'pull' it back out. Personally, I would oil it, and oil it, it is going to age as well, it won't be long it will be a match for your saddle I don't think. __________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS NO MATCH FOR NATURAL STUPIDITY. SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS... ^^being said...keep your friends close-and your enemies CLOSER-hehe..

04-02-2008, 08:13 PM	#14
luttrellfarms Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 351	Most of the time either using oil or dyeing does not work great without roughing up the leather a little with steel wool or fine sandpaper. I know that you probably would not want to do this. Oiling will darken and putting it in the sun will darken it. If you decide to go either way, it is very important to add small amounts evenly over the entire thing and let dry completely before adding more. Trying to get the desired color in one application usually results in dark spots where you overlap. It is very difficult to get the exact color. May happen the first time and may not. If you are really wanting it exact and any shade off will be a problem, you probably need to shop around until you find the exact shade. It is often difficult to get the same shade when making tack. __________________ Tony R. Luttrell www.angelfire.com/trek/landrfarms

04-03-2008, 09:51 AM	#19
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 15,468 Images: 1323 Blog Entries: 273	The 'ruining the stitching' thing is an old deal. From back when they used cotton thread. Now they use synthetics, so no worries. I got my neatsfoot oil from a tractor supply store. If you do one coat and it's not right...wait a day and do another...until it is dark enough. __________________ OMG I'm actually IN JAPAN! like, right now! .'~'. epi tan e epi tas .'~'. I've been SNOWBALLED X10!I have been NOEL’ed and Blessed In His Name

04-03-2008, 10:04 AM	#20
CowGirlUp1833 Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Holland Lake Shore, West Michigan Posts: 16,596 Images: 411 Blog Entries: 38	I used neatsfoot or mink oil on all my tack and it keeps it in wonderful condition... __________________ www.Equine-Endeavors.com Proud mom of Rusty and Stevey - the 2 best red-heads anyone could love!

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04-02-2008, 07:41 PM	#13
pinevalley Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Off the beaten path-Wisconsin Posts: 790	I agree with the others about darkening it with oil. Light oil leather WILL darken over time to probably be perfect to match your saddle due to exposure to light, even indirect, but your saddle will darken with use too... You will NEVER find that absolute perfect headstall by ordering online or in a catalog, the only assurance is to physically take your saddle to a tack shop and finding one off the rack to match! Due to lighting in photographs and computer monitors, if you order one, you may have to return it if the color is off. Decision is ultimately yours, if it was me I would shop locally.