Breaking in a sporran?

[McELT]

Does anyone have a method of breaking in a sporran?

I mean something similar to breaking in a baseball glove, softening the leather a little bit.

Both of my sporrans are very stiff and I thought they may benefit from some softening up.

[Kiltman]

Wear them a lot. If the leather is too stiff you can get products to help with it. However, using them is the best way to soften them up.

[george7]

I'm a volunteer sporran breaker-inner. Just send a sporran and I'll kindly give it years of breaking in.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

"Put everything in the sporran that you ever intend to carry, then submerge it in a tub of hot water for 45 minutes, adding more hot water as the tub cools. Once you have finished soaking your sporran place it, without removing the contents, in your oven with the temperature set at 450 (or gas mark 4) and leave to bake for two hours. The sporran will now "form fit" those items you intend to carry and will only require the occasional application of neatsfoot oil to keep it in tip-top condition. Bauer's "Bag Balm" may be used if you are out of neatsfoot oil."

From So You're Going To Wear A Sporran (Second Supple Edition) By Jay Charlie Tommsen, Bagmasher Press, 1982

[george7]

Put everything in the sporran that you ever intend to carry, then submerge it in a tub of hot water for 45 minutes, adding more hot water as the tub cools. Once you have finished soaking your sporran place it, without removing the contents, in your oven with the temperature set at 450 (or gas mark 4) and leave to bake for two hours. The sporran will now "form fit" those items you intend to carry and will only require the occasional application of neatsfoot oil to keep it in tip-top condition. Bauer's "Bag Balm" may be used if you are out of neatsfoot oil.

Then promptly log on to Amazon and order a replacement phone and camera and zip over to Zazzle for new business cards.

[An t-Ileach]

You need some leather treatment stuff. I wouldn't use neatsfoot oil/mars oil as you won't be able to shine it up afterwards, and saddle soap though excellent for cleaning doesn't really penetrate deeply enough and treat the leather.

I've found by far the best stuff is an Australian product - Oakwood Leather Conditioner - it's very penetrative and excellent for softening (I've used it on saddle flaps that had been allowed to get so dry they were practically sticking out at right-angles). It's best to work it in with your fingers I've found (I suppose, like most of these products, it's mainly lanolin) although the pot recommends a soft cloth.

They have a website (oakwoodproducts.com). They're located at 10 Parkview Crescent, Singleton, NSW 2330 (phone (02) 6571 5711; fax (02) 6571 1615). They seem to have an American agency, phone number (888) 388-1370, and a European one located in the UK (phone number 0800-783-4862). I got this off the pot in my workshop, I hope it all's still current. I usually get new pots each year at the BETA Show, so as this one's been with me since February the gen is probably still current.

[BroosterB1]

"Put everything in the sporran that you ever intend to carry, then submerge it in a tub of hot water for 45 minutes, adding more hot water as the tub cools. Once you have finished soaking your sporran place it, without removing the contents, in your oven with the temperature set at 450 (or gas mark 4) and leave to bake for two hours. The sporran will now "form fit" those items you intend to carry and will only require the occasional application of neatsfoot oil to keep it in tip-top condition. Bauer's "Bag Balm" may be used if you are out of neatsfoot oil."

From So You're Going To Wear A Sporran (Second Supple Edition) By Jay Charlie Tommsen, Bagmasher Press, 1982

Ah you're a cruel, cruel man Ta du that to a perfectly good Sporran! Have yah no heart? Before yah drown the wee beastie yah needs to beat it with yar nine iron till it stops squeallng....

[Bob C]

Where did the idea come from that all sporrans should be soft and droopy like a Rob Roy? There's not a thing wrong with a sporran stiff enough to hold its shape.

As for the drumbeat of the tassles, some guys tack them down with a bit of silicone. I don't mind the drumming, myself.

[McELT]

Thanks for all the responses.

I do like the semi-rigid sporran, but the part of my sporrans which should "accordian" out to stretch to allow me to stuff the sporran are very stiff, dry and brittle(?). I want to apply something to this part of the pouch to make it more supple. I think the buffalo butter or bear grease applied to the inside of the sporran should help me condition it.

I now am also on the lookout for the other, softer sporrans suggested.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Thanks for all the responses.

I do like the semi-rigid sporran, but the part of my sporrans which should "accordian" out to stretch to allow me to stuff the sporran are very stiff, dry and brittle(?). I want to apply something to this part of the pouch to make it more supple. I think the buffalo butter or bear grease applied to the inside of the sporran should help me condition it.

I now am also on the lookout for the other, softer sporrans suggested.

Any grease, oil, etc. that you apply to the inside of the sporran will rub off on anything you put into the sporran