Sporran too stiff to snap

**super8mm** · 6th May 13, 04:12 AM

I got a new Bovine or Equine Hide Sporran and it looks great but I have a slight problem.

The flap is so stiff I can not get it to snap shut. any ideas on how to soften up the flap some?

**artificer** · 6th May 13, 05:15 AM

Can you take a picture of it?

The risk of hydrating a cheap Pakistani made sporran is that they material is frequently "leatherboard" a particle-board type material made with shredded leather scraps and glue, with a very thin leather surface.
If yours is made of this it will delaminate when overly hydrated (conditioned) and worked.

If yours is real leather it should be able to be conditioned and worked to a softer condition.

ith:

**super8mm** · 6th May 13, 05:33 AM

this is the link to it

Semi dress sporran

**artificer** · 6th May 13, 06:12 AM

Generally speaking you should be able to 'work' the leather (flexing it back and forth, and pinching the 'roll' area at the top where the flap folds over) which should
help soften the fibres.

Barring that, the best option might be to contact Nick Fiddes via PM for how to proceed, he runs Scotweb and is an X-Marks member.

ith:

**sailortats** · 6th May 13, 06:23 AM

I had the same problem with one of my sporrans (not a Scotweb one) but have found that over time and use it softened on its own.

**SadisticMedic** · 7th May 13, 12:34 AM

Saddle soap works wonders here. I had the same problem with one of mine and saddle soap along with light clamping did the trick. Then, the more you open and close it the softer it will get.

Medic

**TJ Kelley** · 9th May 13, 12:33 PM

Like Medic said, saddle soap works, or try Mink oil. I have also condition/softened leather with over the counter hand or body lotion. Lil' trick me wife tough me. Good luck Super8, looks like a nice sporran.

**super8mm** · 9th May 13, 08:26 PM

thanks guys, I have used saddle soap on saddles when I was a kid and now I do have some mink oil that I use on my motorcycle gloves.

wonder if it will let me do a wheelie with my sporran??

**Riverkilt** · 9th May 13, 09:35 PM

Common problem with (if I can say the word...) leather holsters. May take time to "work" the leather...do it absent mindedly while watching a ball game on tv or something. Pull and twist...pull and twist...over and over...may take a couple hundred pulls and twists...but it'll work...unless...the snaps were put in the wrong position...then you have a return.

**BCAC** · 9th May 13, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by super8mm

thanks guys, I have used saddle soap on saddles when I was a kid and now I do have some mink oil that I use on my motorcycle gloves.

wonder if it will let me do a wheelie with my sporran??

I am a long way from being a specialist on the subject, but it is obvious that you should be VERY careful that any product (oils etc) that you decide to try wont transfer from your sporran to your kilt.