Leather Quality and Properties

[reidd]

Idk what you guys are talking about. Shell maintenance is super easy. You just brush it for like 30 seconds and it looks good as new. No products needed other than maybe a bone once in a blue moon.

 

[DWFII]

No products needed other than maybe a bone once in a blue moon.

That's what she said.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

That's what she said.

Would the bone once in a Blue be age dependent? Certain younger leathers require more frequent bone treatments.

 

[Luigi_M]

That's what she said.

SIR !!!

 

[razmaftei]

My feet sweat regardless. I have no socks on now as I type and my feet are sweaty. They are getting sweatier because I am thinking about them.

Try a foot bath with oak bark. no ****.

 

[Luigi_M]

So I did an experiment and I put litmus paper in my sock and wore it all day. My sweat is about 4.5 on the pH scale. Well within reason for leather health. I think the issue might just be the abundance of it that causes destruction.

Technical questions apart (about whom I admit the utterest ignorance) you must be commended for your commitment.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Try a foot bath with oak bark. no ****.

That sounds very artisanal ??. My misses would probably concur if you added cocoa butter and dead sea mud.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

salt is generally pH neutral. But sweat is generally more than just salt

Salt is actually pretty alkaline. It is why it ruins leather when its used to melt snow. It makes the tannins leach out.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Perhaps wearing vinegar infused socks should balance out the pH levels.

Vinegar is even more acidic around 2.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

if I had to pick one guy on the forum who just happened to have litmus paper on hand just in case, Patrick Booth would definitely have been my No1 choice

I actually use it often. I test my shaving soaps, coffee, tea, wine, fragrances. I like to stay on top of any potential hydrogen in my household.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Vinegar is even more acidic around 2.

Hahahaha.

Speaking of sweat, my sister (who is an avid runner) swears by Bamboo socks. Apparently they are great for sweaty feet.

Good 'ol Nike Coolmax ladies socks work for me. For my misses, they are ankle socks. For my feet, they are more like liners ?

 

[ntempleman]

Sodium chloride is neutral. Salts are generally formed as a byproduct of the equalisation of an acid meeting an alkali. Salt damages wet leather as a result of its hygroscopic nature. Salt has been used to preserve animal skins before tanning for centuries, so it doesn’t damage the material - wet leather has its moisture drawn by the salt on its surface, and the oils get drawn along with it. The tanning agent for most upper leather is indeed a salt, chromium salt

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Sodium chloride is neutral. Salts are generally formed as a byproduct of the equalisation of an acid meeting an alkali. Salt damages wet leather as a result of its hygroscopic nature. Salt has been used to preserve animal skins before tanning for centuries, so it doesn’t damage the material - wet leather has its moisture drawn by the salt on its surface, and the oils get drawn along with it

Hence why checking your sodium chloride and acetic acid levels would prove beneficial ?. Aside from a healthy body, you would have healthy shoes.

Litmus tests are important! As I said, Patrick is a man of science.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Sodium chloride is neutral. Salts are generally formed as a byproduct of the equalisation of an acid meeting an alkali. Salt damages wet leather as a result of its hygroscopic nature. Salt has been used to preserve animal skins before tanning for centuries, so it doesn’t damage the material - wet leather has its moisture drawn by the salt on its surface, and the oils get drawn along with it. The tanning agent for most upper leather is indeed a salt, chromium salt

Incidentally combining sweat (with its composition) with leather, wouldn't going sockless with loafers produce adverse effects on your shoes?

Specifically Shell, that doesn't appear to breathe much, be negatively affected by sockless usage? Or is that leather or any leather treated in a manner where (provided it has time to air out) would not be as adversely impacted?

 

[ntempleman]

I don’t know how bad sweat is for leather in particular, when you consider some of the leatherwear that sees a long life in constant direct contact with sweat. Shoemakers wear a glove to protect their hands when welting, these things lasts decades of daily sweaty and hard use. Falconry gloves, metalworker gloves, motorcycle leathers - man those suits are soaking up all your body’s moisture on a hot day around a track. Seems odd that shoes would be particularly affected by sweat