Holster care

iblong · July 13, 2012, 03:33 PM

what product are you using for cleanning and preserving your leather holsters.
I have been using standard Kiwi shoe polish on my higher end holsters and was wondering if there was a better product that wont ruin the function of the holster.
Thank's,Bob.

aarondhgraham · July 13, 2012, 03:48 PM

Actually, what you are doing will work fine,,,
The only thing is the wax will build up over time.

There are a ton of exotic products on the market,,,
Kind of like the situation with gun oils,,,
Most of them will work just fine.

The danger is using too much oil and softening the leather.

My personal favorite treatment is to use a damp (not sopping wet) cloth,,,
I then work up a lather with Fiebings Saddle Soap,,,
This cleans off old wax very nicely.

I am very careful not to get the holster too wet,,,
I use just enough water to get a lather and no more.

When the holster dries I wax it up again,,,
I use Carnuba wax on my leather and it works very well,,,
But the standard Kiwi wax you are using will also do the job nicely.

In any case,,,
No matter what product you use,,,
Avoid over-saturating the leather with oil or conditioner.

One thing a lot of people do after they clean and wax,,,
They wrap their gun in one or two layers of any Saran type wrap,,,
They then put the gun back in the holster and form it a teeny bit until it dries.

This is not the end all of holster cleaning,,,
But it will do the trick very nicely.

Aarond

.

BarryLee · July 13, 2012, 03:56 PM

One of my holster manufactures recommended a product called Renaissance Wax which seems to work well at protecting the leather. Remember whatever you do the idea is to protect the leather from moisture and wear, but not to soften the leather. So, avoid products that are designed to soften leather.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...CLEANER-POLISH

iblong · July 13, 2012, 04:07 PM

Thank's guys,Im aware that I dont want to soften the leather thats why Im posting here.I want to maintain the current integraty of my holster.

BarryLee · July 13, 2012, 06:39 PM

One thing that might be helpful is simply visiting the WEB sites of several holster manufactures and reviewing their care recommendations. It might give you some good ideas or verify that you current process is adequate.

Pahoo · July 13, 2012, 06:51 PM

aarondhgraham + 1
Only thing I might add, is a product called "Black-Rock". It's a light paste and when you first put it on, you wonder where it's all going. A day or two later, you see great results. ....

Be Safe !!!

July 13, 2012, 03:33 PM	#1
iblong Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2008 Location: MN Posts: 559	Holster care what product are you using for cleanning and preserving your leather holsters. I have been using standard Kiwi shoe polish on my higher end holsters and was wondering if there was a better product that wont ruin the function of the holster. Thank's,Bob.

July 13, 2012, 03:48 PM	#2
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello iblong,,, Actually, what you are doing will work fine,,, The only thing is the wax will build up over time. There are a ton of exotic products on the market,,, Kind of like the situation with gun oils,,, Most of them will work just fine. The danger is using too much oil and softening the leather. My personal favorite treatment is to use a damp (not sopping wet) cloth,,, I then work up a lather with Fiebings Saddle Soap,,, This cleans off old wax very nicely. I am very careful not to get the holster too wet,,, I use just enough water to get a lather and no more. When the holster dries I wax it up again,,, I use Carnuba wax on my leather and it works very well,,, But the standard Kiwi wax you are using will also do the job nicely. In any case,,, No matter what product you use,,, Avoid over-saturating the leather with oil or conditioner. One thing a lot of people do after they clean and wax,,, They wrap their gun in one or two layers of any Saran type wrap,,, They then put the gun back in the holster and form it a teeny bit until it dries. This is not the end all of holster cleaning,,, But it will do the trick very nicely. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

July 13, 2012, 03:56 PM	#3
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	One of my holster manufactures recommended a product called Renaissance Wax which seems to work well at protecting the leather. Remember whatever you do the idea is to protect the leather from moisture and wear, but not to soften the leather. So, avoid products that are designed to soften leather. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...CLEANER-POLISH __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

July 13, 2012, 06:39 PM	#5
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	One thing that might be helpful is simply visiting the WEB sites of several holster manufactures and reviewing their care recommendations. It might give you some good ideas or verify that you current process is adequate. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

July 13, 2012, 06:51 PM	#6
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Carnuba wax is always good aarondhgraham + 1 Only thing I might add, is a product called "Black-Rock". It's a light paste and when you first put it on, you wonder where it's all going. A day or two later, you see great results. .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

July 13, 2012, 04:07 PM	#4
iblong Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2008 Location: MN Posts: 559	Thank's guys,Im aware that I dont want to soften the leather thats why Im posting here.I want to maintain the current integraty of my holster.

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