Hello guyinSF.
Dont you think it looks better a little worn?.Anyhow i have asked a man, and you have to clean and feed the leather.First use a leather cleaner if needed to get "stains" off and previous stuff then use a leather food like Connolly or something and either leave to dry as is or polish to a sheen. Does that sound about right?.
Leather care...
Leather varies. Google leather. Read up on the different classes and thicknesses of leather: top grain, etc. Leather can be rejuvenated from almost any state except cracks and splits, if you work it long enough. Thick leather naturally is more durable and absorbs more oils and so can be brought back from the dead more than can thin leather. The problem is getting leathers to match AFTER rehabing with cleaner and oiling. And I frankly don't think an amateur, or even a professional, can get the consistency of appearance that you probably want. All that being said, here what you need to know about caring for leather.
First you wash it with soap and water, or a leather cleaner. Both have their pros and cons. The object is to take the dirt and grit and any old waxes and sealers are applied. Waxes and sealers are the death of leather. They seal out water, spills, etc., but they also seal out oil applications, reduce the leather's ability to breath and make it unpleasantly slippery. Some extemely soft bristled brush that WILL NOT abraid the leather finish is necessary. Different leathers respond differently to different brushes, so you have to experiment. In fact, you have to experiment on small, unseen patches of your leather for EVERYTHING you do to it. Leather tolerates no mistakes, if you're looking for a certain look. Once it changes color, its irreversible.
Second, you need to find an oil suited to your leather. I'm not smart enough about furniture leathers to know. I know that there is disagreement over whether oils should have lanolin or not. I can say most furniture leathers are actually pretty thin and crappy quality and so you need to study up on them to find the kind of oil you need. Oils vary in how much wax, or parafin is in them. Your dream oil is pure oil. Old Brooks leather bicycle saddles require something called Proofide to keep the thick, formed leather from getting over lubricated and losing its shape. Proofide has no waxes, so the seat does not become insanely slippery.
Without knowing furniture...
Without knowing furniture leather cleaning specifically, I would at least consider Lexol products (cleaner, oil reconditioner, and surface shiner) used for horse tack. Fine saddles have both thin and thick hides used in their construction. People spend thousands on their saddles. I've used Lexol on our saddles and like it, BUT it invariably darkens the leather some. Go to Horse Tack store or horse tack web site and get some Lexol brand products. Go to a thrift store. Buy some ratty old leather chair with a leather vaguely similar to your chairs experiment on different parts and see if you can duplicate outcomes on it. If you can, then experiment on a small patch on the undersides of two of your chairs. If you can duplicate effects tolerably, experiment again on the undersides of all of your chairs at once to make sure you can duplicate the effect with ALL the chairs.
Lastly, if you know a professional who can do it, bite the bullet and pay them. Working leather is easy and fun, if you don't have to be perfect. But if you have to have perfect results, it is the most frustrating thing to do that I can think of.
Lexol Leather Conditioner
Just bought some. Will report back results.
http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=HQWHCVXUXXL89...
Rennaisance Wax
is what I use on my leather furniture. I buy it from a seller whose link I'm providing below. That site also has a good description of the wax's uses.
http://www.restorationproduct.com/renwaxinfo.html
Hello Brent..
I dont think GuyinSF was being sarcastic honey,dont flip.When i am replying to correspondence either on here on in emails etc. i write it as i would say it and im sure others do the same.I didnt read any sarcasm in it at all!.The wax you mention is probably as good if not better than a lot of wax care products out there.
SADDLE SOAP!
dcwilson's advice is right on. but lexol is pure devils work. even if your temporaraly happy with your leathers appearance when using lexol, in time you will wish you had never used the stuff. it superficialy coats or sufocates the leather, as oppsed to gently cleaning and conditioning it.
Lexol is the way to go.
Back in the day, read: "B.C." (Before Children) I was able to add a lovely red Ferrari to my toy collection (all since gone - wimper,sniff). Anyway, all the Ferrari guys swore by it as the absolute undisputed standard of Ferrari leather care. And by God it is astounding how it softens the leather while adding a very subdued shine and even a "leathery" smell! If you value the subject pieces with even a fraction of the passion that the "Ferraritisti" freaks have, you will not be dissapointed. I recommend that whatever product you chose, first apply a small amount on an inconspicous area before slathering it right on, and deciding you don't like the result.
Good luck!
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