TIL that using a hairdryer on old leather bellows beats any chemical softener I ever tried

I spent 20 minutes warming up a beat-up 1950s folding camera bellows with a $20 hair dryer last Tuesday and the leather flexed perfectly without cracking, whereas those expensive conditioners just left a mess last time I tried them - has anyone else had better luck with heat over chemicals?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina_taylor11d ago

Kind of a lot of effort for old camera leather, no? I just slather some neatsfoot oil on mine and call it a day.

davis.olivia11d agoMost Upvoted

Does neatsfoot oil not darken the leather over time? I've heard mixed things about it on camera gear specifically. Just wondering if you've noticed any color changes after a few applications.

alice92811d ago

Haven't you noticed neatsfoot oil just makes everything look better anyway? I've been using it on my old gear for years and never had a problem with darkening that wasn't already happening from age. Slather it on, rub it in with an old sock, good to go. Takes maybe two minutes and the leather stays flexible forever.