"waterproofing" leather?

[GMMAT]

OK...now water PROOF...but I have a new leather accessory I'd like to treat to be more water resistant.  I'd also like for this treatment to be as scent-free as possible.

Thanks, guys.

[mater]

jamesvalley " I think"  had a unscented leather dressing

[reddogge]

I've use "Sno Seal" on my LL Bean boots with good success.  I don't think it smells too bad.  Not as bad as mink oil.

[Dave Bulla]

I make my own out of rendered deer tallow, bees wax, cedar trimmings and another "secret ingredient" or two that allows me to adjust the consistency.  

When new it smells nicely of cedar/pine.  Sort of a mild version of the Montana Pitch Blend.  After a year or two if it has not been used it looses some of the cedar scent and starts to smell more like mink oil but not as strong.  Been using it for years and it works great.  Never had any go bad either.

When I saw your title I was going to jump in and say "there ain't no such thing" as water PROOF leather.  At least not for any length of time or under abusive conditions.  To me, the purpose of leather dressings is to soften and condition.  It'll help slow down water penetration somewhat but what it really does is allow a leather item to get wet and not dry all hard and stiff.  If you have your leather treated with a good fat and wax based dressing it will still get wet but will dry better and will be better preserved over time.

[4runr]

I like Montana Pitch blend.

[artvin]

Howdy Guys,

 Here's a couple of hints you can take to the barn and mull over. Many saddle makers I know will use Canola oil (Right! The same stuff you cook with.) as a  finish oil on saddles. It pure vegetable oil, is compatible with most leather tannage and when dry leaves no residue.  

Most think unless they have some thick layer of grease on their gear it ain't water proofed..not so...what matters is what gets in the leather fibers.  Oil in the leather is what water proofs it not what is laying on the surface. Leather will never be totally water proofed...if that's what you want use a synthetic material..like they make poncho out of.    

If you have soft leather items...gear bag, black powder bag, or perhaps an all Leather Day Pack you can use the same stuff used to water proof tents. Spray it on....once dry it leaves very little sent if any and no residue to get on cloths. Frankly if you're worried about cent learn to use the wind. Regardless of what you do we "stink" in the woods...and it isn't the leather or what you used to water proof it.

Commercial "grease" leather water proofing has a scent too...and will maintain the scent because it never really drys.

Dave Bulla has a good idea but it sounds like he isn't going to share his "secret ingredient". So, I wouldn't go there....it could take a life time of experimenting to get it right and could cause the lose of a lot of gear due to leather rot.          

By the way, regarding leather rot...most folks put way way to much oil, leather dressing, or goop on their leather...most commercial or home made leather dressing will cause the leather fibers to break down if used to heavily and cause a shortening of the life of the leather items..  A little goes a long way....I suggest whatever you apply you apply with your finger tips...never use a rag.....massage it in with your fingers and you stand less chance of over oiling.  A rag will put way to much oil on the leather.

Just my two cents from 25 years of being in the leather business.        
Art

[Gary Logsdon]

Wonder what kind of scent stopper, blocker, suppressant Fred Bear used Art??  HA!!!

[ron w]

Sno-seal-beeswax, base, no sent!

[Legolas]

Look at this:

 www.huntdri.com   it will make anything act like water hitting a Teflon Pan.

Paul

[GMMAT]

Frankly if you're worried about cent learn to use the wind.

I play the wind every hunt.  I asked if there was a product that wouldn't create extra scent.  

Thanks for the constructive answers.

[No-sage]

I melt in paraffin wax used for canning on all my leather.  I use a heat gun to get the leather warm and rub the block on the heated leather.

[artvin]

No Sage, that will work...are you putting it on leather that is already pretty stiff or on soft leather like in a possible bag?

My only concern is sometime heat will make some leather pretty stiff in time.

This ol dog is always looking for new stuff that works..I sure ain't heard all there is about leather.  I've even tried MinWax furniture paste. It works...of course you walk around smelling like someones living room.   :D  

GMMAT...didn't mean to be offensive.....and my comment about the wind wasn't pointed at you. It was just a general statement... Logsdon made the point better....new guys to hunting "up close and personal" sometimes don't think of the wind as a friend....I agree about being as smelless as possible...is smelless a word?      :confused:

[No-sage]

I've done it to my quivers and bow grips, so most any thickness of leather it work pretty good on.