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 new life for old leather pads...
Author: Dawne 
Date:   2004-01-02 09:23

Boy, I know I am going to catch some flack for this, but I want to share it anyway. I have a old Alto with some old, intact but dried leather pads that were leaking. I didn't want to take it in and spend money on replacing them because I could've just as easily cased the horn and stuck it in the closet to collect dust. Anyway, I ripped a piece of sponge until it was thin enough to stuff under the pads, and then squirted some baseball glove conditioner on it. Then I sqwished it under each pad. I was very generous....and guess what? It worked great. No more squeeks and sqawks. The pads are nicely supple...no leaking. They don't stick...and I still have all my money in my pocket....

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: BobD 
Date:   2004-01-02 10:15

If it works don't knock it! I used a leather product called Venetian Creme and it seems to have worked OK too.

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2004-01-02 13:58

Draz,

Isn't Venetian Creme, a white liquid that you use to get cordovans and other high polish shoes to take on a very nice shine? Takes me back to the 1950s!

HRL

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: BobD 
Date:   2004-01-02 15:45

Yes,Hank, and for fine Corinthian leather too.

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: ron b 
Date:   2004-01-02 16:33

Dawne -

Thanks for sharing your Tip Of The Day  :)

Someone, I can't remember who just now, told me they'd used saddle soap with pretty good results. I never got around to trying it. If you catch some flack for being helpful, we all catch some for at least trying. So, 'thanks again'!

- r[cool]n b -

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: madvax 
Date:   2004-01-02 16:54


Dawne wrote:
> then squirted some baseball glove conditioner on it. Then I sqwished it
> under each pad. I was very generous....and guess what? It worked great

I have had similar success with baseball glove conditioner. It does not always work, but it usually does. I also prefer to remove the key and gently clean the pad before applying the conditioner.

I believe (but not certain) that baseball glove conditioner is just a mineral oil. I suspect that mineral oil will also do the same thing.

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: Synonymous Botch 
Date:   2004-01-02 17:26

You really must get the matches stuffed higher into Altos to get the fire started...

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: jim S. 
Date:   2004-01-02 17:42

I think baseball glove conditioner would be neatsfoot oil, at least that is what I remember from my short-lived baseball enthusiasm in about 1950. Kiwi still sells the stuff and I have used it on dry pads without any problems.

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 Re: new life for old leather pads...
Author: ReedChucker 
Date:   2004-01-02 22:20

Most baseball glove conditioners will use neatsfoot oil. But they can contain other components too. They are used to help soften the leather. The problem is that some of these additives can cause the leather to break down and wear out faster. Pure neatsfoot oil is a safe bet for conditioning leather without affecting it's cell structure. Ok, Ok, OK so what that I wasn't always inside practicing!

Dave

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