Hydrophane vs Hydrophane Darkening Oil

[GirlGeek]

I've used neatsfoot oil for years, but have always been curious about Hydrophane. Other than the obvious of the darkening oil being used to darken leather, can Hydrophane Leather Dressing and Hydrophane Darkening be used interchangeably?

(not concerned about the darkening effect - all of my tack is dark havana, so to me dark is dark...)

[monstrpony]

Both are a little lighter than pure neatsfoot oil. I would not use them interchangeably, if only for the fact that you're not supposed to get the darkening oil on your hands. Not because it darkens them, but I believe one of the ingredients is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin.

The Hydrophane oil is really nice. For new, dry leather, I'd use regular neatsfoot, but once you get the leather broken in and to a good degree of softness, using the Hydrophane just as you would neatsfoot works great. If you have really well prepared leather, like some of the expensive bridles or saddles, I'd not use neatsfoot at all, just use Hydrophane, when conditioning.

[Seven-up]

Both are a little lighter than pure neatsfoot oil. I would not use them interchangeably, if only for the fact that you're not supposed to get the darkening oil on your hands. Not because it darkens them, but I believe one of the ingredients is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin.

The Hydrophane oil is really nice. For new, dry leather, I'd use regular neatsfoot, but once you get the leather broken in and to a good degree of softness, using the Hydrophane just as you would neatsfoot works great. If you have really well prepared leather, like some of the expensive bridles or saddles, I'd not use neatsfoot at all, just use Hydrophane, when conditioning.

I hadn't heard that before. Apparently it's not too toxic, because I've had plenty of it on my hands! I just looked at my can and it has a big ol' red X on it and says not to eat it or let it touch skin. How have I never noticed that before?? It says aliphatic hydrocarbons, whatever that is.


As for the original question, I haven't really noticed a difference in effectiveness between the 2, and I don't know what's different about the darkening oil, but they seem to work pretty much the same to me.

[Dirty Little Secret]

geez monstr I too have never realized that you weren't supposed to get it on your hands. Whoops! And have been for years!
I use both darkening and the regular depending on if tack needs to darken or not. Guess I'll just wear gloves now.

[Seven-up]

DLS- Monstrpony has saved our lives! :lol: I can't believe I never noticed that big-ass X on the back of the can before. I'm trying to google the effects of that compound, and apparently some people have a sensitivity to it, but unless you drink it or bathe in it I don't think it will kill you, but it's kind of like breathing gasoline fumes. Maybe I totally botched that, but that's what I got from quickly skimming. Wild. Gloves for me too. Thanks, MP!


Anybody have a can of the regular oil? Does it also have that warning on it, or is it just the darkener?

[rockfordbuckeye]

hydrocarbons are thought to be carcinogens and can be absorbed through the skin. that being said a LOT of products people use and spray around are potential carcinogens.

If ingested and then aspirated, hydrocarbons kill. you cannot remove them from lung tissue.