How to weather a leather jacket ??

[superDrool]

Sounds like that true story has uncontrolled and possibly damaging effects and or outcomes.
With that said, I would never recommend doing that on purpose. Unless you are THEE man in a fedora.

There are a few other ways to achieve that look without going to the EXXXTREME. Sandpaper is one, but use very fine grit to knock the topcoat off is you really wish to go that route. The other is rubbing alcohol or acetone/nail polish remover. But beware that you need to test a small unssen area before diving in. Most of these techinques are irreversible.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

If you've got a couple years to spare, I'd say just wear it. However, if you don't, a steel brush or steel scrub works very well.

But for best results, like others have mentioned previously, this is how you weather a leather jacket (you might get a bit dirtier than expected):

A jacket that can't take a beating isn't worth a buy, in my book.

 

[bdohazelnuts]

A very effective means of weathering a leather jacket, and not yet mentioned is to just leave it out in the weather (depending on where you are). Between rain, UV beating, wind, dust, etc... It can work very well, if you have enough time to do it (several weeks to a couple of months, depending on where you live, and how weathered you want it), and you have to make sure that you take care of it while it is being weathered (mink oil works great for this). Essentially, you are exposing it to an extended period of wear in a shorter period of time.

 

[superDrool]

I don't recommend mink oil, as it smells and I've heard it putrifies the leather over time. I would however recommend Lexol leather conditioner, which is pH balanced for all leather applications and will not damage leather in short or longer term applications. I would steer clear of long term exposure to UV or too much rain as it could do irrepairable damage. Drying up the essential oils left in the leather after the tanning process that makes the leather soft and supple. Which is what Lexol is meant to replace, but Lexol cannot repair cracks and micro tears in the fibers of the leather or seam stitching threads. This is considered uncontrolled conditions, leaving it up to mother nature alone would not make me get the warm fuzzies that she is taking care of my investment.

 

[Samhain2000]

Wearing the jacket on a regular basis will weather it. I wear my Snake Plissken all the time and it has broken in very nicely.

 

[terryr]

Snakes jacket looks likes it been sandblasted. Or he found it lying in the desert with a skeleton inside it.

May be best to get some scrap leather and experiment. Or cheap leather from the second hand store and try several different things.

 

[superDrool]

Snake's jacket is one the rare extreme distressing cases you won't find out in town, or even a replica maker will do properly. As that jacket was hit hard and heavy.

 

[Rikimaru]

Knowing the type of leather your jacket is will determine which product is best suited for that hide. And there are oils that you can use on your jackets, but depending on the environment that you live in you may want not want to use that application.