So what’s the “best way” to finish veg tan leather? Or better yet what is the most traditional way? I seen many products out there but can not find any clear information on which one is more traditional Or how the old timers did it? And by old timers I’m referring to 1850’s 😊😎
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After a thorough research and reading this is what I found. I'm not copy pasting but I'm telling you what I remember.
Back in the day they used to use a formula of neatsfoot oil and wax, made into a balm and that's how they used to finish/protect/nourish bridle leather (it's veg tan but with lots of tallow in it). Some people here in the UK are still selling this type of finish or leather preservative and just to be aware, it will darken your leather slightly as most of the oily/waxy based products.
Others used to use mink oil(usually in the US)-it adds a shine and it's also a leather conditioner. Now, original and pure mink oil is probably out of the market, mink furs was a popular product back then but not in our days. Mink oil was the byproduct of that industry.
In some other places of the world like the Mediterranean countries; they used olive oil to feed and finish or preserve leather-not recommended cause it will eventually come up to the surface making the leather feel greasy. A similar product to the English neatsfoot oil based balm I mentioned earlier is the beeswax+olive oil balm. This is a very popular product in Greece, especially in monasteries, they sell it there as part of their small handicraft. It can be used on leather, probably it was in the past. Also, even if the formula of the Obernauf's heavy duty LP is secret (this is more of a boot finish and protector in the US), because I have used it in the past, something tells me it has olive oil in it. It smells very similar to that monastic beeswax+olive oil balm I mentioned earlier.
So, long story short, traditional finishes were usually wax/oil based balms, made with either neatsfoot oil, mink oil, beeswax, tallow or olive oil.
Check Sedgwick leather, I think they sell one there and it's traditional. Sometimes it's worth buying it ready made rather to experiment and some other times it's even cheaper or the same price as if you'd buy the ingredients and make them yourself.
I hope that helps.