Leather RepairUpdated 18 days ago
Cracking Leather
There are two reasons why your leather begins to crack.
First, dirt can be built up in the pores. Eventually, this will split them apart.
Secondly, the boots could be dry. As the boot dries out, the leather contracts, causing cracking. See our article about Hydrolysis for more information.
Taking a more in-depth look at why your leather is cracking, the issue stems from the texture of the leather.
Running your fingers along the leather, you will notice that it isn’t a consistent texture.
There are some small bumps. This is because genuine leather is made from animal skin.
To breathe, animals need pores in their skin. This allows them to sweat and excrete oils.
However, when this skin is converted into a boot, dirt, and dust can get trapped in the porous surface.
Over time, this can cause the boot to get discolored. It can also start to cause cracking.
Another potential reason why your boots are cracking is that they are being stored in a low-humidity environment.
As the boots dry out, they will contact. When this happens, it can start to crack.
The longer it is in this environment, the worse the cracking will become.
Repair Cracking Leather
There are a few solutions that you can explore to fix cracked leather . The right one for you will depend on how damaged the boots are.
Minimal Cracking
Put some leather cleaner onto a cloth and rub it over the boots. This will get rid of any dirt and grime.
Put some boot conditioner onto a cloth. Rub this into the boot. Give it some time to dry. Read the instructions to learn how long this will take. You will often need two or three layers.
After waiting for the conditioner to dry, you should notice a marked improvement in the boots. If not, you’ll need to try another method.
Significant Cracking
Use a leather cloth to clean out the cracks.
If there is still dirt, you might need to use sandpaper to clean them. Lightly use a 600-grit sandpaper to avoid damaging your boot.
Apply a layer of moisturizer (if you haven’t already). Moisturizers fix smaller cracks, but serious cracks require a different approach.
Put some leather filler onto a sponge. Rub it over the boot and leave it to set. The filler usually takes between five to ten minutes to set. But check the instructions to achieve the best result.
Use sandpaper to buff the boots.
Steps 1 – 5 should have mended most of the cracks. If it hasn’t, you’ll need to apply more leather filler.
You might need to use a knife to do this, allowing you to get deep into the crack.
Filling cracks can be a slow process. And you might need to apply a few layers to complete the seal. The sealant typically takes around 30 minutes to dry.
Between each layer, use sandpaper to buff it down.
Once the crack is sealed, you’ll need to use boot cream. Boot cream conditions and helps seal the cracks. Just make sure that you use a shade that is similar to the leather of your shoes.
Finish by buffing both boots with a cloth. Buffing ensures that they will be the same color.