Reconditioning old leather camera straps

[Bayliss]

Quite a few of my older cameras with cases have straps that are very dry and flakey in places. Is there anything you can do to recondition these/ensure they'll be less likely to snap?

Thanks!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Quite a few of my older cameras with cases have straps that are very dry and flakey in places. Is there anything you can do to recondition these/ensure they'll be less likely to snap?

Thanks!

When the leather starts cracking I get it replaced. I have a Hasselblad 500mm lens case that had cracks including the strap and a leather hinge, so I took it to a shoe repair store. The owner partially disassembled the case and rebuilt it with leather that matched the light yellow color. It looks like it was never worked on, almost new.

 

[awty]

As Mr Glass says, once it's gone it's gone.
You can reinforce cases, replace stitching if the leather is still ok, but for straps it's best to replace if you wish to use.
I generally fix up original cases and straps as best I can and leave them at home if they are in poor condition and just use modern straps if I have to.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Neatsfoot oil does a good job of making old leather supple. Applying Neatsfoot oil to new leather keeps it from cracking and probably preserves its strength. However, I don't think that there is anything that will restore the strength of old cracked leather.

 

[Bayliss]

Thanks for the responses - will try neatsfoot oil and if that doesn't work I'll look into getting it replaced

 

[Dan Daniel]

I lost my first Rolleicord when the strap broke and the camera dropped to the pavement.

 

[GregY]

Thanks for the responses - will try neatsfoot oil and if that doesn't work I'll look into getting it replaced

Lexol is a great product for conditioning leather. it doesn't leave a greasy residue like neatsfoot oil. If you search on the internet, choose a product that is recommended for leather furniture or leather car seats. I really haven't used neatsfoot oil since i was softening up a baseball glove.
It does depend how far gone the strap is....as suggested, if it's badly cracked, no conditioner will help

 

[Truzi]

For something like a strap I'd worry it would break and the camera would hit the ground.

I'd go with Sirius' idea of having the strap replaced. You could even ask a cobbler if they can integrate the old strap into the new one (like a layer on top) to keep some of the provenance yet have a solid piece of material for safety.

 

[KerrKid]

You can also try Lexol or my favorite, Ballistol. Everyone should have a bottle of Ballistol around.

 

[Xylo]

My favorite leather restorer is still good old mink oil. I just apply, let sit, sometimes apply a bit of heat with a hair dryer, after a good while, I just wipe it off. Re-apply if needed.

The only drawback I heard is that dogs are supposedly attracted to the stuff and will chew the leather.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I'd go with Sirius' idea of having the strap replaced. You could even ask a cobbler...

I have had very bad luck with cobblers making replacement straps and re-stitching cases. I found them to be 'one trick ponies.' If it wasn't what they did every day they couldn't do it. I suppose that's good, an independent minded creative cobbler isn't the sort of person you want for putting new soles and heals on your shoes.

I would use a modern nylon strap that won't break and keep the old strap for when you sell the camera.

My treatment for hiking boots is a good soak or two in Neatsfoot oil, then a good slathering in Sno Seal and finally a few hours in a warm oven with newspaper on the oven bottom to catch the drips of oil & wax. That may be the root of my skepticism of claims of neatsfoot oil treated leather cracking - it may be the Sno Seal preserved the oil. Sno Seal on it's own won't make leather pliable.

 

[GregY]

I have had very bad luck with cobblers making replacement straps and re-stitching cases. I found them to be 'one trick ponies.' If it wasn't what they did every day they couldn't do it. I suppose that's good, an independent minded creative cobbler isn't the sort of person you want for putting new soles and heals on your shoes.

I would use a modern nylon strap that won't break and keep the old strap for when you sell the camera.

My treatment for hiking boots is a good soak or two in Neatsfoot oil, then a good slathering in Sno Seal and finally a few hours in a warm oven with newspaper on the oven bottom to catch the drips of oil & wax.

I agree.... there aren't many old school cobblers with the fine skills necessary for the work these days. Saddle makers are more skilled at fine work these days, but you're not going to get an inexpensive fix.
Decades ago i used the same approach as you for climbing boots, but materials and construction styles have changed....with the advent of sealed sole seams, & goretex liners . You'd be hard-pressed to find Snow Seal in any climbing shop these days....& i certainly wouldn't use that approach to leather camera straps.

 

[Truzi]

I have had very bad luck with cobblers making replacement straps and re-stitching cases. I found them to be 'one trick ponies.' If it wasn't what they did every day they couldn't do it. I suppose that's good, an independent minded creative cobbler isn't the sort of person you want for putting new soles and heals on your shoes.

I would use a modern nylon strap that won't break and keep the old strap for when you sell the camera.

My treatment for hiking boots is a good soak or two in Neatsfoot oil, then a good slathering in Sno Seal and finally a few hours in a warm oven with newspaper on the oven bottom to catch the drips of oil & wax. That may be the root of my skepticism of claims of neatsfoot oil treated leather cracking - it may be the Sno Seal preserved the oil. Sno Seal on it's own won't make leather pliable.

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. A cobbler I used to go to only did shoes. Good work, but closed years ago.

The one I go to now is on Clague in Westlake ("The Italian Cobbler"). I think he does purses and luggage too.

 

[guangong]

Neatsfoot oil does a good job of making old leather supple. Applying Neatsfoot oil to new leather keeps it from cracking and probably preserves its strength. However, I don't think that there is anything that will restore the strength of old cracked leather.

Ditto. The best source for Neatsfoot oil in terms of price is a horseman’s tac shop.

 

[Kino]

As others have noted; leather that is cracking like that basically has little strength left and will break easily when softened. I used to try to rescue them out of a sense of "authenticity" but after having most of them snap, I no longer feel so inclined.

You can buy a leather working tool kit and and enough pre-cut leather strips to make 20 camera straps on Ebay for a less than one major brand synthetic strap.

Making a strap is pretty dead simple.

 

[Xylo]

Definitely. I got some leather working tools on AliExpress for cheap and they work just fine.
I find that a spacing leather punch with a 5mm spacing is pretty good for working on camera stuff.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It can be hard to match the color, surface and thick of existing leather.

 

[shead]

You can also try Lexol or my favorite, Ballistol. Everyone should have a bottle of Ballistol around.

I used to restore old military rifles and Ballistol is excellent, along with neatsfoot oil, to bring back the life of leather slings and ammo pouches. But as folks mentioned, if the leather strap is cracked and dry, lightweight in the hand, it is likely too far gone. Never trust completely dry leather. Replace.

 

[BMbikerider]

Quite a few of my older cameras with cases have straps that are very dry and flakey in places. Is there anything you can do to recondition these/ensure they'll be less likely to snap?

Thanks!

If the straps are still strong, but only look a bit shabby if you can get hold of something we call in UK 'saddle soap' it will refurbish the appearance. You apply it with a damp cloth to both sides and once it has soaked in and nearly dry, a touch of bees wax polish will help to make it waterproof and give the smooth side a nice shine.

We can buy it at outlets that sell horse riding saddles and bridles and for what it does it is really cheap

 

[henryvk]

I have had very bad luck with cobblers making replacement straps and re-stitching cases. I found them to be 'one trick ponies.' If it wasn't what they did every day they couldn't do it. I suppose that's good, an independent minded creative cobbler isn't the sort of person you want for putting new soles and heals on your shoes.

I would use a modern nylon strap that won't break and keep the old strap for when you sell the camera.

My treatment for hiking boots is a good soak or two in Neatsfoot oil, then a good slathering in Sno Seal and finally a few hours in a warm oven with newspaper on the oven bottom to catch the drips of oil & wax. That may be the root of my skepticism of claims of neatsfoot oil treated leather cracking - it may be the Sno Seal preserved the oil. Sno Seal on it's own won't make leather pliable.

I'd say that's because this is outside of their expertise. The person you want is a purse or bag maker.

To add another product to the mix: I use saddle butter for boots and it does very well and can't be bad for a camera bag eithe. It consists of neatsfoot oil, beeswax and/or carnauba wax.

 

[Dan Daniel]

...if the leather strap is cracked and dry, lightweight in the hand, it is likely too far gone. Never trust completely dry leather. Replace.

I'll do a 'snap' test (my own word, nothing official). Push two points of the strap together then pull apart quickly, make the leather snap. This will make dried leather obvious. Include connection points- lugs, buckles, etc. If it can't handle this it might not handle stepping off a curb and having the camera drop a few inches.

 

[KerrKid]

I'd say that's because this is outside of their expertise. The person you want is a purse or bag maker.

To add another product to the mix: I use saddle butter for boots and it does very well and can't be bad for a camera bag eithe. It consists of neatsfoot oil, beeswax and/or carnauba wax.

Saddle Butter sounds like a great product. Thanks for mentioning that.

 

[BobUK]

I have used both Neatsfoot oil and Ballistol on cases and straps.
Even when used in moderation, for me they tend to leave grubby marks on shirt necks and collars.

Not sure how vegans and vegetarians would get on with Mink Oil or Neatsfoot oil.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have used both Neatsfoot oil and Ballistol on cases and straps.
Even when used in moderation, for me they tend to leave grubby marks on shirt necks and collars.

Not sure how vegans and vegetarians would get on with Mink Oil or Neatsfoot oil.

Vegans and vegetarians would not be using leather anything, so they would have leather straps. Oh and they could not be using film because the film base is gelatin which is made from animals.

 

[KerrKid]

Vegans and vegetarians would not be using leather anything, so they would have leather straps. Oh and they could not be using film because the film base is gelatin which is made from animals.

Not to chase this rabbit down a hole, but there are different kinds of vegetarians. I was raised a lacto-ovo vegetarian and leather was not out of bounds.