Thursday, July 1, 2010

How to protect a leather diary during rains?

Leather is ageless, but only if cared for properly. Of all things, moisture during rains causes most harm to your leather diary. The dampness and moisture can cause mildew, loss of natural oils, and leave the leather cover discolored, dry, stiff, and vulnerable to cracking. Though the leather used for covering diaries and books are made using a process called vegetable oil tanning, which adds durability, your leather backed diaries must be waterproofed before the onset of rains.
Waterproofing of your diary leather cover though similar to the process used for maintenance of other leather products, there are some special precautions you need to take. Here are some tips on how to accomplish this:
Like all other leather, regular cleaning is prudent. Dust along with moisture is a lethal combination for destroying your leather cover. This will not only damage the cover but induce the bacterial and fungal growth, which harm the papers too. By regular cleaning, we obviously don’t refer to any rigorous techniques. Just dusting off the dirt and wiping off stains, if any, is sufficient.
Waterproof your diary leather well before the onset of rains. Never use traditional oils or waxes. The leather used to cover diaries and books normally have a delicate texture, and hence, strong waterproofing treatments will harm the quality of the leather. Use products that are exclusively meant for delicate leather types like suede.
“Spot Check” that’s the mantra. Always remember to test the chemical on an inconspicuous part of the leather cover. Check if the test area shows any sign of color or texture change before using it over the entire leather cover.
Mink oil is a preferred conditioner for leather book covers. It makes the leather cover soft and supple along with protecting it from moisture.
Avoid spray protectors. Waterproofing sprays are a good option if you want to cover a large area. However, leather bond diaries are comparatively small areas you are dealing with. The spray protectors can at times spread and damage the paper, hence good old rub on waterproofing treatments are preferable.
After dusting off the dirt from the diary cover, apply the waterproofing agent all over the leather. To waterproof the reverse side of the leather, apply the wax or oil first on the inner side of front cover. Keep the book open and allow the waterproofing agent to dry. Leave it open overnight if needed. Then, the next day repeat the process with the back cover. This way, you can protect the entire length of the leather without damaging the paper.
After the waterproofing agent dries off, wipe the leather with a clean cotton rag to remove any excess oil or wax away. It will prevent the pores of the leather from getting clogged with the wax or oil, plus protect the pages inside too.
Once done with waterproofing, you can polish the surface with a gentle conditioner. However, avoid this step in case your diary has a matt finish.
As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”, always remember to keep the diary in a dry place away from long hours of direct sunlight. Even after waterproofing, keeping the diary covered in absorbent tissue or muslin will work a long way towards extending the life of your premium leather backed diary and books.

No comments:

Post a Comment