by Mike**Mize » January 1st, 2007, 3:17 pm
Hey Key Man,
Good luck with the one-step. Each glove is different. Some require more, some less. One-step works best on cowhide gloves, but it can also successfully clean horsehide and deerhide. If the glove you're working on is very dry and stiff, I've found it's actually best to start with the interior of the glove. Go way up inside the fingers on all surfaces, behind the writstap and under any folds that might go overlooked. Doing this step first lets you put the glove on to do the rest. Then go to the back of the glove, between the fingers, and then finally the pocket and the rest of the front surface. It's basically a matter of putting it on and wiping it off. The longer you leave it on, the more it will interact with the leather. You don't have to remove all of it. If you use an old white cotton rag, you'll be amazed at how fast the rag turns brown. Once you begin working with it, you will see the kind of cleaning and conditioning it can do. Repeated applications only serve to make the leather cleaner and healthier. For old grease stains it helps to scrub it in with an old toothbrush, then wipe the lifted grease away. It will soften ink stains, but not remove them completely in all instances. Once you've gone over the whole glove a few times, put on a thin application and let the glove dry. You''ll find that it does not darken the leather and in many instances actually lightens it up.
One other thing about this cleaner is that I feel it's important to wash your hands thoroughly after using it. It's pretty powerful stuff.
I also use Nokona Glove Conditioner at times. Some guys feel it gives a nice glow to the leather once it's clean. It's good stuff. I also have saddle soap around and use it for white and buckskin teens and 20's gloves.
Let me know if you run into a problem or question. I'll try to help you out.
Funny thing about the two gloves you mentioned from eBay. The 1911 Rawlings glove turned out to be from the late teen/ early 20's. I think it's a P48. It's a beauty inside and out ; and what was called a catcher's mitt is clearly a base mitt, also from the 20's. It's a mid range glove. I just really like the full hand, five fingers back. It's in remarkable condition. There's faded ink on it, but the guy who wrote on it was clearly from that era and did a nice neat job writing his nickname on it.
Happy New Year,
Mike