doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help on refurbishing gun case

Thank you Damascus. I never thought about wallpaper it's not so common for inferior desecrating as it once was, I should have asked my wife.

To install labels in cases for me I use Elmers glue. It's water based so any overage can be easily wiped off with a wet towel. And just wet it down to remove.
I can say I have never had one come loose.

As my time writing on this forum is now quickly coming to an end though my new word processor has cut down on the misspellings though its punctuation leaves a lot to be desired. I will list other items that will help with the restoration of leather.

For light leather colours use Glycerine soap for the initial cleaning not saddle soap, has less of a darkening effect.
For the case leather hinge line use a 50 50% mix of Cod liver oil and Neatsfoot oil, make sure that you get the real thing undiluted with other oil. This will not cure the cracking but it will prevent further deterioration.
E45 Cream works as a good leather restorer you can also add dye to this, rub it in to the leather a couple of times a week and it will restore that looked after leather glow.
For a real bad case of hard dead leather rub the leather with a mixture of neatsfoot/cod liver oil and water with a drop or two of dish soap added. Shake the bottle well before use.
Just a piece of advice Leather did not get hard and brittle over night it takes many years, so it will take some time and a lot of effort to improve its situation, it may never become perfect but it will become passable for its age. That black case of mine is a hundred and fifty plus years old with its original leather so as I said take your time and feed the leather often.
The final finishing polish I have always used is "Shoe Restoration Polish" it has lots of added colour dye added leaving a good deep shine.
Finally if you have to glue leather purchase the correct leather adhesive for hard ware places though for normal sticking back the odd scuff flake and cuts PVA works well

Why is your writing time on this forum coming to an end?

I followed Ernie’s advice on multiple applications of neetsfoot over an extended period. The first couple of applications did not to my inexperienced eye show much improvement but after several weeks the leather became much more supple. I still apply after the winter, summer, and fall.

Ernie, I agree that your Thread on Leather Gun Case Restoration that was posted in the DIY Gunsmithing Forum is worthy of keeping somewhere easily accessed rather than slipping deep into the archives. This won't be the last time someone needs this information. The Search function here is much better after Dave Weber's last upgrade, but it can still be a bit tedious to find some things if you cannot remember exactly who posted it or how it was titled.

The internet is filled with tutorials on gunstock refinishing and slow rust bluing,, etc., but there isn't nearly as much to be found on this particular subject. Perhaps the nearly unused Professional Gunsmith forum could be somehow repurposed to archive some of the best of the DIY Gunsmithing forum. I don't know how Dave might decide what Threads would be best to keep for easy and quick furure reference... maybe a vote or poll to determine the Top Ten each year or something????

In Re; your tip on reviving dried out leather with a mixture of neatsfoot and cod liver oil. That sounds promising. I have done something similar with a 50-50 mix of neatsfoot oil and beeswax for leather boots, and also to revive a couple old leg of mutton cases I bought last year. I heat it in a tin can to melt the beeswax, and brush it into leather that is warmed with a heat gun to help it drink up more. It really seems to soften and prolong the useful life of the leather. Makes it quite water resistant, and in the past I also used it to prevent deterioration of my work boots from hydraulic oil and grease.

Anyway, I'm glad you are still posting very useful info while you can. I know you told us awhile back that some vision health problems might end that, but hopefully it won't progress and end your time here anytime soon. Your sharing of knowledge is much appreciated.

I just read the posts by Damascus. Very well done. I use most of his methods except for the glue. I use a spray adhesive for the felt and put the dividers in place with a glue gun.

eeb. Without going in to a lot of detail over the last ten years my central vision has detreated so much that I now have approximately 30% working with the other 60% giving no vision at all due to "Macular Degeneration" (up to now there is no treatment other than try to slow its advance down) to add more of a problem I have no depth of field plus the 30% working is in low level shades of grey with a little colour. I have to use a special keyboard plus the having to have all the images expanded on my computer monitor so I only see about 20% at one time so writing text is extremely time consuming and laborious, though my updated word processor helps a lot by spotting the typing errors. It is not all doom and gloom I am not heading for a Guide Dog and a White stick my peripheral vision is unaffected so far though that only starts to become useful after about ten feet. All in all I have lost some things and gained others, also there are more unfortunate people than my self, this is brought home to me every time I visit my specialist at his clinic.

Ernie

The responses here give me hope that I can bring this case back to useable form. I need additional help. In these photos you can see that the case was in the line of overspray with white paint. Top and side only. The left side is worse than the right. How to remove this overspray?

Ernie, I am very sorry to hear this personal news regarding your eyesight. I have valued your knowledge and generosity in sharing as well as your graciousness in answering specific PM questions.
I only hope and pray the best for you.