Diagnosis: Mouldy

[Basil]

I'm sure we've had similar threads before.
I nicked some copper sulphate from sibling's chemistry set and painted my mouldy Pedersen saddle with this.
Seemed to cure it.

*checks on line for the West Wales Copper Sulphate Centre*
 

[morbihan]

Chlorox is the go-to answer for the frequent mould problems here in Bermuda.
 Risky on a leather saddle though.
 Maybe a quick chloox wipe to kill the spores then wash and saddle soap straight afterwards.

[robgul]

I'd try Proofide on a small area (perhaps to the side of the nose of the saddle) - my kids used to have ponies when they were young and if there was the odd bit of mould on any tack (saddles, bridles etc) saddle-soap (aka Proofide) fixed it and brought it back to life, and got rid of the white stuff.

The other remedy is to put it in the airing cupboard and then apply Proofide (again trying a small area)

Rob

[Canardly]

Hows about a rub down with Miltons steralising fluid and then a bit of proofide? Dont go mad with the proofide, the leather is quite soft already and a quarter turn may be required. The saddle was always kept in the house on or off the bike.  Wales has had the odd shower or two in recent months I hear.

[Paul]

I'm sure we've had similar threads before.

So am I.

However, 'my' mould seems to have been of the 'just wipe it off' variety.

[Basil]

I've asked the mods to merge this thread into Paul's earlier one.

I've figured out why the mould has appeared.  (I think).  When I walk the dog in the woods, I pick up a couple of large fallen sticks and drop them near the shed.  When I've got a few, I crop them into 8 inch lengths and store them on dexian shelving in the shed to dry out.  This keeps me with a good supply of kindling.
Some of this wood may have been old and rotting.

Anyway, at Mrs. B's suggestion, I cleaned the saddle with witchhazel.  Worked a treat.

[Basil]

I've asked the mods to merge this thread into Paul's earlier one.

Blimey, that was quick.  I wrote the above response, tried to post it and my thread had disappeared.   

[The Movers]

I've asked the mods to merge this thread into Paul's earlier one.

And Lo! It was done.

Any risk of a cuppa?  We don't get paid extra fer Sundays.

[Basil]

Good moving, movers.   

Sorry, we're just sitting down as the beef is resting.  Tea's off.  I can offer you an aperitif.  Or perhaps a glass of Chateau Lidl red?

[hellymedic]

This old woman doesn't 'arf repeat herself... 
Spose that's what old women DO!

[Fab Foodie]

I had the same happen with a Brooks B17 in a very damp garage, I just wiped it down with a meths soaked rag and when clean and dry proofhide.  That was 15 years ago on a saddle that was already 10 years old .... it's still in use on the Brompton.

[Kim]

For completeness, I once had a proper saddle go fuzzy in a superficially similar way:  It had become impregnated with minty arse lard, which had oozed to the surface and formed a layer of slime over a few weeks when I hadn't ridden the bike due to injury.  It just wiped off.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I've not ridden much of late, and the Sardar has been somewhat neglected this year.  It is stored in a dry shed, but the past winter has not been kind.
As I received the saddle as a gift from a chum, I'm not sure of its care history.



My question is;  before applying loads and loads of Proofide, should I do anything else?  Perhaps to kill the mould?
Your expert advice would be most welcome.

Drink the wine. HTH

[Mr Larrington]

Where'd the photo disappear to

[Basil]

Where'd the photo disappear to

Still there.  Can you not see it?

[jsabine]

It's there for me now, but had vanished last night.

[Kim]

Yeah, there was a photobucket error image last night, but it's back now.

[Blodwyn Pig]

  It had become impregnated with minty arse lard, which had oozed to the surface and formed a layer of slime

[mzjo]

Funny thing is that I have several leather saddles of a variety of makers and up to 50 years old and I don't have any moulds growing in spite of keeping them in a very damp garage with a badly leaking roof. Could the radioactive Limousin rain have something to do this? They don't get to see enough use for any other factor to have an effect.

Is that real wine or Austrian anti-freeze? Could this be part of the problem?

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Funny thing is that I have several leather saddles of a variety of makers and up to 50 years old and I don't have any moulds growing in spite of keeping them in a very damp garage with a badly leaking roof. Could the radioactive Limousin rain have something to do this? They don't get to see enough use for any other factor to have an effect.

Is that real wine or Austrian anti-freeze? Could this be part of the problem?

That's odd because I have 2 leather saddles in the Limousin that both suffer mould of the wipe off variety.  Their stable is dry but airy.  Maybe mould is like dry rot - the degree of humidity has to be exactly right?  Too much and it doesn't like it.

It would hesitate to use a saddle with non-wipable mould lest it be contagious.  I wouldn't want to go all blotchy like that.

[Mr Larrington]

Could be Botrytis cinerea.