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How To Use Ray Holes Leather Care Products - Extended Instructions and Tips

These tips mainly apply to equine tack leather, rawhide, and boots, but still contain valuable tips for other leather products. For default instructions for each product, see the product's individual page. 

SADDLE BUTTER®

Made Especially for Leathers Exposed to Foul Weather and Hard Service       

Protects your gear from three of leather’s worst enemies—water, sun, and sweat.

Tips for using Saddle Butter

  • Leather is skin; think of Saddle Butter as a healing, moisturizing, and protecting lotion.
  • Never apply conditioner to dirty leather. Clean leather thoroughly before conditioning
  • Saddle Butter __Ray Holes Leather CareUse a soft brush to remove dirt, dried sweat, and hair from the leather.
  • Clean leather thoroughly by lathering saddle soap or Vaquero Rawhide Cream with a little warm water.
    • Water Temperature: Warm water is more effective at dissolving sweat and dirt and is effective for cleaning leather.
    • If you can put your hand in the water, it's safe for cleaning saddle leather. Lighter leathers may require slightly cooler water. 
  • Wash both top grain and flesh sides of leather.
  • Saddle Butter can be applied to both the top grain and flesh sides of the leather.
    • Leather on the flesh side of equine tack is often in contact with sweat and salt and might need additional cleaning.
  • Rinse off with warm water. Towel dry.
  • Saddle Butter can be applied to slightly damp leather if needed. 
  • The water repellant Carnauba wax buildup will sometimes dry white on top of the leather and in grooves. 
    • To remove any wax buildup in tooling, warm wax with a hair dryer or friction and buff into leather. 
    • Carnauba wax will naturally fall off/buff into the leather, so buffing is not essential for working tack/boots. Feel free to ride your saddle without fear of a residue on your pants. 

Conditioning Leather with Saddle Butter

After cleaning has been completed. See tips above.

STEP 1: Clean your leather item before applying the protective layer of Saddle Butter. We recommend using warm water with a small amount pure glycerin soap, then rinse well and let dry.

STEP 2: For best results, apply in a warm location. Use a soft, clean cloth or your hands to apply an even coating of Saddle Butter. Let your leather sit for up to 8 hours after the application until the Saddle Butter is completely penetrated into the leather.

STEP 3: Buff the Saddle Butter using a clean cloth or woolskin to a desired shine.

Vaquero Rawhide Cream®

Cleans and Conditions Fine Rawhide and Leathers

Developed for a market that has long been neglected — the need to clean and nourish rawhide tack while protecting its integrity.

Tips for Cleaning and Conditioning with Vaquero Rawhide Cream

  • Leather is skin; think of Vaquero Rawhide Cream as a gentle moisturizing soap. 
  • Use a soft brush to gently remove buildup of dirt, dried sweat, and hair. 
  • Lather on a light coat Vaquero Rawhide Cream with a little warm water.
  • Use only as much water as needed to clean.
  • Rinse off with warm water. Do not immerse.
  • Towel off excess water.
  • Allow rawhide to air dry in the shade avoiding the sun or direct heat.
  • After rawhide is dry, apply a light coat of Vaquero Rawhide Cream with a soft cloth, sheep skin swatch or with your hand.
  • Using your hand to apply Vaquero Rawhide Cream works well. The warmth of your hand helps the conditioner distribute and penetrate more effectively.
  •  Next Day: Work in any excess conditioner with your hands, then buff with a soft, clean cloth or sheep skin swatch to remove any conditioner that isn't absorbed into rawhide.
  • Apply a light coat of Vaquero Rawhide Cream after cleaning to replenish and condition the rawhide. 

Cleaning and Conditioning with Vaquero Rawhide Cream

After cleaning has been completed. See tips above. 

STEP 1: After rawhide is dry, apply a light coat of Vaquero Rawhide Cream with a soft cloth, sheep skin swatch, or with your hand. Using your hand to apply Vaquero Rawhide Cream works well. The warmth of your hand helps distribute and penetrate the rawhide cream.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: It's best to use a light coat of Vaquero Rawhide Cream and add more later if needed. It's not possible to tell how much of this rich dressing is being absorbed until the next day.

STEP 2: Let rawhide dry overnight in a cool, dry place. 

STEP 3: Work in any excess conditioner with your hands, then buff with a soft, clean cloth or sheep skin swatch to remove any conditioner that hasn't absorbed into rawhide. Apply more light coats of Vaquero Rawhide Cream on the rawhide with your hands and let sit until rawhide is at the softness level desired.

CHAP WAX® and DRI-BOOT®

Waterproofing Made Especially for Leather Gear Exposed to Foul Weather

Lasts longer than grease and can be used repeatedly without causing leather to become spongy or stretch out of shape.

Chap Wax and Dri-Boot are the same product — different packaging.

Tips for using Chap Wax and Dri-Boot

  • Leather is skin; think of Chap Wax/Dri-Boot as sunscreen.
  • Clean leather thoroughly with warm water and saddle soap or Vaquero Rawhide Cream.
  • Allow leather to dry.
    • Heat, such as the warmth of your hands, sunshine, or warm air from a blow dryer, will help Chap Wax penetrate deeper into the leather and stitching.
    • Use caution. Excess heat can damage leather.
    • To warm the jar of Chap Wax:
      •  Ideally the waxes should be softened to the consistency of soft butter. With the lid removed, place the jar in a pan of warm water on the stove top. DO NOT turn the stove on while jar is in the water. Chap Wax can also be warmed in the microwave, lid off, on low, and in 15-second increments until you’ve reached desired softness. 
    • Buff off excess with a soft cloth. The Carnauba wax cools white and buffs out to clear.
    • Use one or more coats, depending on weather conditions. 
    • Additional Chap Wax should be applied to seal vulnerable leather. Brush an extra coat or two of Chap Wax onto stitching and to leather outsole and welt for best effect.
    •  Chap Wax can be applied to leather after conditioning with Saddle Butter for additional waterproofing treatment.

    Instructions for using Chap Wax and Dri-Boot

    STEP 1: Clean your leather item before applying Chap Wax or Dri-Boot. We recommend using warm water with a small amount pure glycerin soap, then rinse well and let dry. This is also a good time to reapply Saddle Butter to recondition your leather. 

    STEP 2: Apply room temperature or slightly warmed product to clean, dry leather. Use one or more coats, depending on weather conditions and use level. Additional wax should be applied to stitching areas as stitching is a prime place for moisture to penetrate.

    STEP 3: Buff to a desired shine using a clean cloth or woolskin. 

     

    Printable Version of all Instructions

     

    Ray Holes Leather Care Products has been family-owned and operated since 1936. 

    Find a Ray Holes Leather Care Products retailer nearest to you

    on this website's "Store Locator" tab.

     

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