Soften those "cardboard stiff" leather seats!

[uwanna]

I did a good bit of research looking for a leather softener/restorer. I needed to treat some very expensive western boots that had sat on the shelf for years, as well as a vintage heavy duty motorcycle jacket that had become unwearable.
I came upon this product "Obenauf's Leather Oil", and found nothing but glowing reviews. It absolutely worked miracles on my boots and jacket, they just drank up the oil. It made them as soft and pliable as new! So I thought about the leather front seats in my 911. After years in the ravages of the sun, heat and dryness, they just had that stiff "cardboard feel". So I slathered the right seat in my car with a generous coat of the oil.
It took a day, but it soaked it all up. I then repeated the treatment twice more over a weeks time. The seats now feel as soft and pliable as the day the car was new!
I previously tried multiple treatments of the well known and very expensive "Leatherique Leather Rejuvenator" which never gave me any satifactory results!
One caution on some of the reviews was that on some lighter colored leather, it may cause darkening. It indeed somewhat darkened some tan boots that I applied it to, but my seats are the light tan color (Cashmere) and it didn't change the color a bit.
I think the boots were just a much more porous leather. This would also be a great treatment for a leather dash!

This stuff is awesome!

Here's the description:


Use Obenauf's Leather Oil for regular maintenance and preservation of leather items, specially when warm, dusty, or dry conditions are dehydrating your valuable leathers. Our Leather Oil is a gentle blend of natural oils, waxes, and propolis that extends the life of leather and also rejuenates neglected, dried, faded leather. Easier to apply than our Heavy Duty LP, it provides fast, convenient protection that also preserves. Obenauf's Leather Oil:

Restores dried leather to a soft and supple condition.
Restores sun-faded leather.
Repels water.
Resists cracking, scuffing, and dry rot.
Applies easily with the applicator cap or with a clean cloth.
Penetrates deeply into leather.
Can be buffed to shine or polished over.
Excellent for touch-ups between applications of Heavy Duty LP.
Contains no harmful silicones, petroleums, solvents, or neatsfoot.

Gentle on the leather, but remarkably tough in it's preservation qualities, Obenauf's Leather Oil is perfect for leather furniture, exotic dress boots, saddles & tack, motorcycle leather (provides outstanding protection against wind, sun, and water), garments, baseball gloves, work boots (firefighters use it to protect their boots from scorching heat of forest fires), automotive seat leather (protects it from the baking sun) , and much more.



Amazon.com: obenauf's leather oil

[Tidybuoy]

Just curious, how much did you use on your seats. I noticed that it is sold in 8, 16oz and 1 gallon sizes. I wouldn't mind trying it.

[yazhound]

Thanks. Going to Horse Town this weekend. Will look for it!

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Just curious, how much did you use on your seats. I noticed that it is sold in 8, 16oz and 1 gallon sizes. I wouldn't mind trying it.

I originally bought a 16oz bottle, which would certainly be enough for your seats.
I have since bought a 1/2 gallon, since i want to do a couple of large leather overstuffed livingroom chairs. This stuff is fabulous! Now I have half quart of the Leatherique stuff that will go unused. Just damn!

This is the testimonial that made me click "buy":


“I was detailing two well used motorhomes. The first coach had cream colored leather pilot chairs, couch, recliner, and dash. The second coach had hunter green leather chairs and dash. I put two coats of your LEATHER OIL on as directed - one hour apart. WOW! I could not believe how beautifully it restored the leather. It shined and felt so soft it looked new.”

— Robyn B. Motorcoach Maintenance, Foretravel Northwest, Inc.

[brighton911]

Thanks for the tip. I too suffer from cardboarditis (well my seats do). I've tried Leather CPR and a saddle conditioner with very little success and I was contemplating the next steps like new covers or new seats etc. I'll report back on how it worked for me.

[DG624]

It can't fix cracks. I had problems with my seats so I switched to Recaros.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by DG624

It can't fix cracks. I had problems with my seats so I switched to Recaros.

True enough, but if it is used before the seats crack, they never will crack.

[NoYouRelax]

Thanks....going to give it a try to. Yet another project i have been putting off. Seems reasonably priced compared to other options.

[88911coupe]

I am planning to use leatherique on my seats at some point to repair the color which has work through on a couple of spots...would it be better to use the before or AFTER I do that?

[Rich Gas]

When I bought my car the seats were perfect but brittle. I was working on the shifter bushings and put my elbows through both seat bottoms.... Cost? $500-$1500... Sucks. Wish I had read this before working around inside my car. I buy their wax based product that works great too. Use it around the ignition key round rubber/plastic piece, goes from light grey to black again. Easy fix.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by 88911coupe

I am planning to use leatherique on my seats at some point to repair the color which has work through on a couple of spots...would it be better to use the before or AFTER I do that?

My thinking would be to use this product to treat and soften the seats before recoloring
them. I would use this in place of the Leatherique Rejuvenator, as it does a much better job. I would let the Obenauf's oil fully penetrate for a week or so, then use the Leatherique
Prestine Clean on the surface to prep for the color. I would then just follow the rest of Leatherique's coloring instructions.

[DRACO A5OG]

$16.50 on fleabay will give it a try got credit so let's see.

[Len 911]

Just placed an order, I will let everyone know how it works out for me... Thanks for the info

[DRACO A5OG]

me three, back seats really need them

[uwanna]

In rethinking my original post, this product should not just be thought of as a "rescue" product for very troubled leather seats. I think it is a good preventive maintenence item, even on good condition leather to prevent the cracks and drying from occuring!

[shadowjack1]

I'll give it a try. On order now.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by uwanna

In rethinking my original post, this product should not just be thought of as a "rescue" product for very troubled leather seats. I think it is a good preventive maintenence item, even on good condition leather to prevent the cracks and drying from occuring!

That's my exact thinking. My seats are currently perfect and I want them to stay that way. I usually use Mother's Leather Conditioner which I like very much but it leaves white in all the perforated holes - this is fine on my 944 which has tan leather but my 911 has black seats and it really shows. I'm hoping that this product will be a great alternative.

[ASD]

sounds like great stuff. Kinda like that Gummi Pflege for rubber. Wish I had leather seats!

[Len 911]

How can you tell if the seats are leather or not.

[jlex]

Originally Posted by Len 911

How can you tell if the seats are leather or not.

Leather won't melt, but plastic will. Find a totally inconspicuous spot, heat a needle to red hot, then touch it's point to the material to verify its composition. Before everyone gets all wigged out, I'm saying find an inconspicuous spot where a needle's entry point won't be seen by anyone.