Comments on: Help for the Stiff, Squeaky Saddle

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:58:51 +0000

CAUTION – Before you slather on a lot of oil, know your saddle. If it’s a custom made by a saddler worth their salt, they will have oiled the saddle appropriately during the construction process. Depending on who built it, and how it was tooled, they may have applied a finish such as Tan-Kote to protect it in addition to oil so if you try to oil the grain side, you might just have an oily mess. Talk to them to find out about the finish and care. Also, make sure you use pure neatsfoot oil, and not compound. You can also use olive oil. After letting the oil soak in overnight, you can apply leather balm with atom wax to the back of fenders and stirrup leathers to help prevent sweat and dirt from being absorbed into the leather. Only use it on the back though. After you apply it, use a piece of very faded denim and rub it down.
Some of the squeek can come from new leather as it stretches and flexes. Personally I would avoid baby powder, or any powder since it will tend to absorb oils from the leather. When properly constructed the ground seat will not move, nor will the leather seat. If it’s moving and squeeking, the saddle is of poor construction.

By: fae

fae — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:02:27 +0000

graet advise! thanks

By: Kaitlyn Donovan

Kaitlyn Donovan — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:59:23 +0000

I had heard about the baby powder idea but thought it was just someone’s crazy idea. Now I know it really works!

By: Montana

Montana — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:39:44 +0000

Thats cool!! I’ll try that if I get a new saddle!!!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:58:04 +0000

great article!

By: cc

cc — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:55:09 +0000

great article! I have been trying to get the squeek out of my for ages!

By: a

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:52:13 +0000

Thanks for the helP!