Testing Leather Treatments

[@childcrone]

Great side-by-side, thanks for doing this! Huberd's and then Sno-Seal have been favorites in my family since I was a kid in the '70s. I currently keep my water-resistant leather boots performing waterproof with Sno-Seal a couple times a year.

[@Julia_USMidwest]

If your Sno Seal sample was still damp, it was probably the absorbed water repelling the oil. It was really a great demonstration though--very valuable.

[@nL841wK68l]

EXACTLY what I was looking for. AWESOME video !

[@peilanhsu]

the results make sense! I use Obenauf LP and it's oil based, so it makes sense that none of these resist oil. Would love to see a leather cleaner video! e.g. Obenauf leather cleaner, Chamberlain No 2, Leather Honey, etc

[@Unicorn161]

Sno-seal requires you heat the leather hot enough that it melts when you put it on the leather. They add a solvent that lowers the melting point, and if you don't heat the leather first, you can get voids from the solvent as it evaporates.

[@23yovet]

Great video! quick, informative and very interesting to watch. You had good control in your experiment, and even made a home remedy to put the store bought brands to the test. Well done, and thank you for your time. I will be checking out your other videos for sure. cheers!

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

Hey thanks for the comment. Glad you liked it. You can see how I made the home treatment here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpKkl4ucipt7mMU

[@tomh1244]

Didn't even look like the Sno Seal let in more water. Just where it was screwed to the board and the fibers stretched.

[@childcrone]

That's how it looked to me, too.

[@acidfuzzpedals9986]

Thanks for the test/review. Another advantage to Huberd's, or any conditioner containing pine tar, is that pine tar reportedly protects against insects like ticks & mosquitoes.

[@oOMXROo]

Is that a fact?

[@maninacrowd2342]

This was a great test bro! Helped me when looking for waxes

[@erichandyauto]

Just now coated my cabela's boat shoes with sno seal and about to start coating my belleville tacticals next. sno seal rocks! thanks for sharing.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Pine tar is great stuff and it is non water soluble, however it is fat soluble and oil could be considered a fat. Sno Seal has turpentine in it to help permeate the leather the same as a lot of high quality boot polishes. Some people make the mistake (me included many years ago) to heat the Sno Seal before application and this can actually boil the turpentine out as it has a very low flash point leaving you with a hard to apply wax that is more like a clear wax polish.

[@SeaBadger519]

I’ve been trying to figure out what’s in sno-seal for the longest time. How did you know it’s turpentine? Is that why it has that chemicaly smell?

[@chrisgunsandguitars1403]

@@SeaBadger519Turpentine is made from pine tar so it works well as a solvent to make these products absorb into leather. The smell from many of these products is pine tar, if the product has it, or the bees wax. All products made with bees wax have that smell I don’t find particularly appealing.

[@jlwaltosz]

Part of my duties are cleaning public restrooms, We use a disinfectant similar to pine Sol and occasionally bleach. I always buy gor tex boots,Either danners or cabalas brand. If I get a year out of them before they leak I'm lucky. The leather drys out and cracks.I normally spray them a few times a year with a silicone spray.I last week I started out by putting snow seal on my new boots. My plan is once a month redoing them with snow seal.

[@valetudo025]

How did the snow seal work a year later

[@adambatchelder4121]

Interesting, ive tried em all working in the woods with logging boots in the wet and snow and found snow seal to be slightly more water resistant than the others

[@Rokaize]

Yeah it’s just a pain to apply and is ridiculously sticky

[@henryg1875]

Great video! Thanks for uploading the test. I noticed that most of the water was over the screw on the sno-seal sample. Maybe the water just got soaked up through the hole or something? Anyway great test. Keep up the good work.

[@redram5150]

I wondered that as well.

[@lwmaynard5180]

Engineers boots may be prone to diesel and oil penetration ? I wonder if silicon additives might help ?

[@rangervapes571]

I think the sno-seal got a bad shake on the first test as the water bead was on the screw allowing the water to penetrate down the screw

[@dragonclaw88]

exactly what i was thinking!

[@ricdonato4328]

Spot-on comment! Congratulation on your Ranger Tab. Received mine 1964, I was with the 101st.

[@lokoteconunoshuevotes4685]

Obenaufs had a big drop right on the screw as well though

[@Jimmy-vt8jb]

​@@lokoteconunoshuevotes4685screw looked tighter on that one. Also on the sno-seal it only penetrated at the screw

[@athomas2k8]

@@ricdonato4328damn didn’t even get a like for that and it’s been a year.. blown

[@CircleBrewery]

I use snoseal and Hubert’s … snoseal works better in heavy snow or water for but Hubert’s works good on initial break in and mild snow and water … usually apply it again and again while snoseal will last a week or longer depending on the water I’m in

[@cbarbs8277]

I wonder if having grain of the leather exposed allowed the salt, gravel, and oil mixture to penetrate easier? It'd be interesting to see this experiment done in a way where the the leather samples are like flex sealed in place so that the solutions put on it can't reach the grain and there aren't weak points like with the sno seal and the screw. Also like you said, have each solution done separately because for me personlally i want to know what'll help keep wet concrete from drying out my boots. Thank you though, definitely one of the best videos on youtube that show leather sealing for WORK boots, not just someone worried about early morning dew 😂

[@doublebase6509]

I just ordered some Obenaufs, however I’ve always used sno-seal during winters. I guess in the end it doesn’t matter…whatever you apply in extreme conditions will need reapplying weekly or bi-weekly. The sno- seal does make my feet sweat and the boots stink because there is no breathing/air flow when that sno-seal goes on.

[@lwmaynard5180]

Check out the Lone woods man formula for tin pants ? He uses micro crystalline wax and other oils ? Great testing keep it up .

[@PuReBlOoD3478]

I used huberds and heat on axe handles. So far so good.

[@Krispy1011]

Great video. I've used Snow Seal for many years and it always performs very well on my leather boots and shoes for waterproofing and preserving. I'm not a fire jumper or a construction worker out in the elements for 8 to 12 hrs a day, but I do hunt and fish with my boots and Snow Seal works for me! I use Snow Seal a couple times a year on my boots and even polish my boots once or twice a year with Kiwi regular shoe polish. I do clean my boots regularly if they get covered in mud and gunk I don't leave the mud and gunk set on them and dry.

[@jamesmccloughan1057]

Same! I've used Snow Seal in an area of Michigan that gets over 140" of snow annually and a healthy dose of salt and sand. My boots have stood up for over five years without retreating and with no damage to the leather.

[@PacemakerandButtons]

Great test.....Question is now can you retreat the leather and it repel water again.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

Yes I'm pretty sure that would work. I'll have to give it a test sometime.

[@justwatchingffs371]

Would like to see a test like this but more with dirt and sand abrasion, to see which product remains effective the longest.

[@motov8-garage832]

Ive been using obenauffs and some bick 4 for several years and like it. Ive been wanting to try Hubbard's just because "essential craftsmen" recommend it👍 and it looks to work well. I haven't seen any leather treatment that doesnt collect dust..but i guess its not to hard to dust off boots every day or two though. I take a little better care of my boots then my dad😅 He wears his boots from new to there death without ever putting anything on them or ever cleaning them off lol.. theyll have a decent darker looking upper with a dry tan lower😄

[@garethbaus5471]

This gives me an idea for a somewhat similar test comparing how well different leather conditioners last. I was thinking of testing olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, a mixture of the 3, and used motor oil. I could also test 2 different application methods, and see how well they preserve the leathers flexibility and appearance in outdoor conditions over time and compare the results to a control peice.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

Sounds like an interesting test. I would be interested to see your results. I've never heard of using used motor oil as a leather conditioner, but it might work well. I don't know how well it would last over time, (it might cause the leather to break down physically), but it should certainly repel water when it was freshly applied.

[@CircleBrewery]

I’ve used coconut oil and it works… have to apply it often … I made the mistake of over saturating my boots and it caused the leather to weaken and crack in spots… my fault not the oils… learned to apply a little wear and reapply as needed

[@garethbaus5471]

@@CircleBrewery I have used coconut oil, but that is pretty different from a controlled test.

[@thadstuart8544]

Wonderful demonstration. Thanks! I've always used mink oil. Just ordered Sno Seal. I like how it didn't darken leather as much and it seemed superior regarding protection

[@kentsugden6865]

How are you liking the sno seal? I used it for a while, but I found it doesn't keep leather soft as well as other options

[@jacVincent1]

Nice video! Sno seal for the win! I did not expect it to be the best, good to know. Of all non spray on leather protectors I find sno seal darkens the leather the least by a long way. If you condition your boots first (bick 4 leather conditioner) then use sno seal, you can maintain the color of your boots. Nice to know it’s also the toughest protector too!

[@otpays8552]

Wow, Literally the combination I just used on my new boots. Don't know anything about this stuff. Hope it works!

[@rebalicu]

Nice comparison video.

[@joeryan7024]

I use Hubbard's but I'm not in the shop I'm in the woods. What if you did a layer of Sno-Seal then a layer of Hubbard's or vice versa.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

I think at some point the leather becomes fully saturated and won't absorb any more compound. But two coats in either order are probably better than one if your leather can take it all in.

[@joeryan7024]

@@ShawnsWorkshop I was told never to use synthetics/chemicals on leather but have you ever tried? Maybe just at the seams by the soul of the boot

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

@@joeryan7024 I've never tried full synthetics. I think even Sno-Seal is mostly natural ingredients. It's probably worth an experiment, but I'm not sure what I would use. I do know one old guy who treats his knife sheath with WD-40. It seems to repel water well enough, but it made the leather much more soft and floppy. Also the smell never fully goes away. It works for him, but it's not something I'd do if I had any other product to use.

[@Lexo400GS]

Just curious as I use a silicone spray for my new work boots every year. Can you use multiple layers of these products as they dry? Say over a three day period adding another layer for more protection.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

Yes you could use multiple layers. Though I should note that since the compounds don't really sit on the surface, the idea of layers isn't necessarily applicable. With the application of heat, the compounds are absorbed into the leather like a sponge absorbs water. You can continue to apply treatments until the leather is completely saturated.

[@k9feces]

I bought Huberb’s because of the good reviews and it seems to do nothing. Sno Seal seems to actually work for me.

[@jeffmitchell72]

Impressive setup. I'm very surprised as well

[@MindKontrolleProject]

Some products looked a little blotchy going on.🥾 Blotchy boots would drive me crazy . Especially after paying ($$$ Hundreds of Dollars) and then spending the next 10 years looking" at them.👀 Biggest concern is NOT making them look like 💩 * Which product visually looked the best after applying? Need my boots lookin' Gucci for my wedding.😁 I wonder how the staining would be with just droplets of motor oil? or Ketchup, Mustard etc. I stain my footwear mostly by missing my mouth when eating.

[@MindKontrolleProject]

Nice selection

[@wswillett]

Obenauf's Leather Protector is all I use on my Crispi and Meindl for hunting in snow and rain.....bullet proof

[@naasehvnishmaJH87]

Thank you ! Just what I was looking for. Very helpful!

[@valerieramirez3496]

Curious have you tried saddle butter?

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

No I have not. I've never heard of it. I would be happy to give it a try though. Is there a particular brand you could recommend?

[@valerieramirez3496]

@@ShawnsWorkshop Ray holes saddle butter! I was curious how it would stand up to these im needing to order some more but figured I'd look around which is what brought me to your video! I wish I'd done this test before running out lol! The Saddle Butter is said to be ph balanced and that it doesn't darken leather which is why I bought in the first place and it really doesn't darken by much at all!!!

[@valerieramirez3496]

@@ShawnsWorkshop I appreciate this video. I was listening and glancing the other day but I watched the whole thing tonight and I just want to say I appreciate your way of doing this experiment and I am thankful for the information! I wish I'd thought to try this with the Saddle Butter because I like that it doesn't really darken leather. I've heard tan kote seals leather completely I'm thinking about getting some so I can experiment with antiques. I got into leather work as a way to make and repair horse tack since I got 2 horses and 2 ponies, all rescues and have 4 daughters. Curious since it seems this may somewhat relate to your content, have you ever tried staining wood with acrylic paint and baby wipes?! I recently mixed up an airbrush thinner recipe for acrylic paint and I think if thinned enough it may work to dye leather! (I'm still too intimidated to use the airbrush for some reason lol!) I do find that the fabric medium for acrylic paint helps leather absorb the paint alittle and helps it stick to the leather. Sharpies in alcohol work but only on wet leather otherwise it dries too quickly. I'm trying to find a way to make different color antiques and make the leather resist absorbing the antiques. Anyway I lost where I was going lol! Thank you again for this video! I'm excited for you to try Ray Holes Saddle Butter and see how it may compare to these!

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

@@valerieramirez3496 I have never tried acrylic paint on wood. But it might work as a stain if you thin it enough. For leather, the only serious leather worker who I know personally only uses alcohol based leather dyes. If I used an acrylic on the leather I would be concerned that it might interfere with my other leather treatments, such as the saddle butter. Its worth experimenting with though. If you ever try it, I would be curious to know how it works out.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@ShawnsWorkshop any naptha based wood dye will mix in just fine with oil/wax re-proof based mixtures. Still likely to turn out a bit blotchy as some areas of the leather soak up a bit more than others. Personally I don't care what boots look like if they keep my feet dry and my toes intact

[@Rokaize]

These products all work. So whichever is chosen youl be fine. By far the most important factor is to actually take care of your boots and apply at least something

[@rickc4317]

Well done and interesting....thank you.

[@bettyhughes2084]

I put Snoseal on some leather boots, walked around in swamp up to my knees all day, bone dry when I took off at dusk. It will repel water if applied properly. I heat mine how much longer than this guy appears to do.

[@bullydungeon9631]

Terrific thank you so much

[@redram5150]

I’ve used mink oil on my Carolinas for over a decade with very good results.

[@beertravel]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

Anything that repels water and doesn't destroy the leather or make it stiff will do the job. I recently bought a seven lb candle for $1.50 four pounds of beeswax for about $ 15 and a quart of clear mineral oil $ 12... melt it all together in the 'right' amounts and cast in handy size blocks... about 15 pounds of blocks for about $30 My usual mix for jackets, leggings and boots is 40/40/20% beeswax/paraffin wax/mineral oil and it performs just as well as any fancy named brand stuff for a fraction of the price. Interesting video thanks - I'd much rather make my own.... way more fun and satisfying.

[@josephlathrop1914]

they are not a Water proofer

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

Sno Seal and Huberd's Shoe Grease both state "Waterproof" on their websites. Obenauf's LP states "protection against Dynamic and Static Water Penetration", and Cadillac Mink oil states "Water Repellant" on the can. They're not claiming IPX-7 submersion proofing, but I'm not going swimming in my Red Wings either. For me if it keeps out the snowmelt and road crud then its doing a good job. I'd like to make another video like this one to test even more products. What leather treatment do you use?

[@josephlathrop1914]

@@ShawnsWorkshop Obenaufs it's a leather conditioner it not a water proofer it protects the same way the oils on your skin helps protect your skin.

[@nalsra0]

Great experiment!

[@ProfessorClay]

Thank you.

[@Dreoilin]

Good honest detailed review!

[@bajamedic]

Obenauf’s gets my money.

[@z1522]

Oils will penetrate most any treatment, even Gore-Tex layers; salty water and dirt will likely be repelled by some, and experience with SnoSeal over years gives it my vote. Huberd's was never very effective, just very old-school as a greasy physical barrier to water.

[@houlester]

Sno seal is the best in my opinion

[@gqfiend]

This was fun

[@stephenbaron5681]

Hi, I give you an A for effort but being a chemist I have to tell you your method was not Scientific and the results meaningless.

[@1kontrabida]

Salt is very acidic hence every test panel got soaked up with the mixture of oil, salt and etc...test concludes the products doesn't have protection against acidic substance. jmho

[@garethbaus5471]

Salt is chemically neutral, with equivalent amounts of positive and negative ions.

[@Boddah.]

Salt isn't acidic, it's neutral.

[@1kontrabida]

@@Boddah. @Gareth Baus You guys are absolutely right! what salts reaction to metal its ability to speed up oxidation by allowing the metal to lose its electrons which in turn makes the metal vulnerable to elements such as oxidation and degradation.

[@17bigwrench]

we are all now dumber from watching this. there is no common sense used in this video.

[@oldeays5085]

If your boots are made from 5 oz leather. Then it's probably sure, that you bought Walmart boots! 😂 7 to 8oz is what Wesco and Whites use! And that's what boots should be! That's why, they use that weight.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

Most working tradesmen can't afford a pair of boots that cost more than their mortgage payment. Also most of the industries I've worked in provide a $150-250 boot allowance per year. Why spend your own hard-earned cash on Whites when the company is going to buy you a brand new set of Redwings every year?

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@ShawnsWorkshop The mine supplied pit boots I wore for decades were legendary for weight and strength, but unless you knew the secret to conditioning them, you did not break them in, they re-modelled your feet ! Used to soak them in hot water and keep that water hot for 48 hours. That softened them up. Then you put them on and wore them till they were completely dry ... a couple or so of days and they then conformed to your foot shape. Then we covered them in a good thick layer of grease and stuffed them in a poly bag and left them in the hot drying locker for a week or so. A touch up a couple of times a week from the grease pot in the lamp house kept them good. Totally waterproof and fitted like a pair of gloves ... so to speak ;