# How to lubricate leather WITHOUT softening it **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167 "2023-08-26T23:50:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/1 "2023-08-26T23:50:51Z")
I have a belt that, instead of having a typical buckle, fastens with pegs that go into the holes. They’re a tight fit, which I’d like to preserve, but I would like to “grease” them a bit so long as it doesn’t soften the leather. So far everything I google wants to tell me how to soften it, but I just want to lubricate it. Anyone know what I need to do that? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/2 "2023-08-27T00:04:24Z")
You might try a tiny amount of silicone spray, but I would be very cautious. It’s likely to stain. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/3 "2023-08-27T01:51:25Z")
Welcome back!! The few of us still here missed you. I’d not use any sort of spray by direct spray. Spray into a dish or something then swab some lube from the dish into the peh-holes. Rather than silicone spray I might suggest petroleum jelly AKA Vaseline or even cosmetic cold cream AKA Noxema. You’re working with a natural product: animal skin. Use something compatible with skin. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/4 "2023-08-27T01:52:36Z")
Furniture polish or Armor All on the pegs or a bit of talcum powder to dip them in. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/5 "2023-08-27T01:56:21Z")
I’d find a leather store and see if they can put metal grommets in the holes. The holes might need to be enlarged a couple microns, but the thickness of the grommet should offset that. “Grommet” might be the wrong word I’m using. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/6 "2023-08-27T01:57:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Use something compatible with skin. That will soften the leather. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/7 "2023-08-27T02:15:20Z")
Hah! Two minutes research have told me that not only did I use the correct word (grommet), but you can probably do this yourself if you want to invest a couple bux and a little practice time. [Observe:](https://www.google.com/search?q=belt+hole+grommets&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450j0i3i66i143i362l4j46i3i143i362j0i3i66i143i362l2.15554634j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/8 "2023-08-27T03:24:12Z")
Hah! I knew you were right. I have that tool. Better and easier than the bead-dazzler. Which I also own one, maybe two of. (I also have an aglet maker and hog-ring pliers, a guitar pick punch tool. Hey I like odd ball tools) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/9 "2023-08-27T13:19:44Z")
Woof! You’re a Beck after me own heart! Hey, OP, send your belt to **Beckdawrek** along with return postage and a decent emolument and I bet she solves your problem. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/10 "2023-08-27T14:06:48Z")
I admire your use of “aglet.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/11 "2023-08-27T14:10:35Z")
Heck, Beck, I’m impressed! So, is the cardboard sleeve around a Starbucks coffee a “zarf”? ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/12 "2023-08-27T14:27:19Z")
for leather - better than vaseline (petrol jelly) - is **Lanolin** That’s the oil/grease/wax that sheep secrete that their hair stays impermeable to water (so a sheep standing in rain would not be weighted down and be an easy prey). easily obtained in your local pharmacy ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/13 "2023-08-28T03:34:05Z")
I gots the leather working tools. I went thru a whole thang about making little leather thingys. And I needed the aglet maker for this twill tape episode I went thru. I could go on and on… For the OP …get the lanolin, it’s the best bet. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-lubricate-leather-without-softening-it/989167/14 "2023-08-28T03:42:07Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I admire your use of “aglet.” I blame Phineas and Ferb for my knowledge of this fact.