Leather Notes
Leather Notes
Java Waxed Flesh
Basic Details
Leather Name: Java Waxed Flesh
Maintenance: Occasional application of Truman Boot Protector
Tannery: Horween Tannery
Tannage: Previously called Hunstman, a direct descendent of 'daubed' military leathers
Weather Resistance: Initial waxed state provides strong water resistance that decreases as the leather is worn
Availability: Rotationally stocked
Truman Why: This leather was the first leather we walked out of Horween with. The provenance of this tannage was a perfect fit for our boots, providing a very thick, durable leather that evolves in direct proportion to the amount of wear.
About the Tannery
Horween Tanning
Horween Tannery is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. They have been producing exceptional leathers at scale for over a hundred years, suppliers of leather to military contractors and basketball and football makers.
Their ability to transform a hide into a canvas of leather is a feat and stands as a bastion of American manufacturing.
The Look
Smooth vs. Rough Out: Heavily Waxed Rough Out
Glossy vs. Matte: Initial gloss breaks to matted nappy rough out
Patina Potential: 10/10, dramatic change with heavy wear
Color: Dark brown, with lighter brown nap
Texture: Relatively smooth waxed surface, nappy once heavily worn
The Feel
Thickness: Full 6oz. // ~2.4mm
Stiffness: Firm
Break-in Difficulty: Typical break-in experience; responds quickly to wear
Cleaning
1. Using a horse hair brush, lightly brush to remove any debris, dust and dirt from the uppers.
2. Take a wet-but-not-dripping, clean cloth to further release any stubborn dirt, and pickup all additional buildup.
3. If there is dirt or mud thickly caked on that does not come off with just water, we recommend our Leather Boot Cleaner. This can be applied directly to the leather, followed by gentle pressure with a horsehair brush to lift persistent dirt from the leather.
4. Using a clean, dry cloth, remove any excess water and/or excess cleaner, if used.
5. Air dry only — quickly drying with heat can shrink, deform and otherwise crack the leather.
Conditioning
Just like your skin, leather becomes dry and needs to be reconditioned to retain its strength, prevent cracking and therefore prolong its lifespan. Frequency of conditioning is dependent on three things: the leather, your lifestyle and the climate in which you live.
For frequently worn boots, you may want to condition as often as five or six times a year. If your boots sit amongst a collection of boots — resulting in infrequent wear — they may not need conditioning for years.
You will want to prevent the leather from drying out with the occasional application of conditioner, such as our Leather Protector or Leather Cream.
Using a horse hair brush designated solely for conditioner, apply a small amount first to the brush, and then gently brush in the conditioner using swift, intentional movements. For water resistance, our Leather Protector is the better choice of conditioner, and should be applied to all seams in addition to the upper leather.
Signs that your boots need to be conditioned include stiffness or a feeling of dryness to the touch.
Leather should never be allowed to get so dry that visible cracking occurs on the surface.
