Dubbin (also known as “dubbing” in the USA) is a traditional product used to soften, condition and waterproof

leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hogs ...

. It consists of natural

wax Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give ...

oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...

and

tallow Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, primarily made up of triglycerides. In industry, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or mutton fat. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, includi ...

. Dubbin has been used since

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

times to waterproof and soften leather goods. It is different from saddle soap used to clean and lightly condition leather, or

shoe polish Shoe polish (or boot polish) is a waxy paste, cream, or liquid that is used to polish, shine, and waterproof leather shoes or boots to extend the footwear's life and restore its appearance. Shoe polishes are distinguished by their textures ...

, which is used to impart shine and colour to it. Dubbin can be made with beeswax; fish oil; and lard, and can also include

mink oil Mink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera '' Neogale'' and '' Mustela'' and part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as "mink": ...

. The name ''dubbin'' is a contraction of the

gerund In linguistics, a gerund ( abbreviated ) is any of various nonfinite verb forms in various languages; most often, but not exclusively, one that functions as a noun. In English, it has the properties of both verb and noun, such as being modifia ...

''dubbing'', describing the action of applying the wax to leather.

References

;Citations ;Other references

- Material Safety Data Sheet - Joseph Lyddy dubbin.

- ''Opportunities for industry and the safe investment of capital'' (1859) Rothman, E., Lippincott, USA *Jarell, T.D., Holman, H.P., (1923) Effects of Treating Materials and Outdoor Exposure upon Water Resistance and Tensile Strength of Cotton Duck, ''Industrial and Engineering Chemistry'', Bureau of Chemistry, Washington. *Norton, F.J., (1945) ''Waterproofing Treatments of Materials'', Patent Number 2386259, Serial Number 452,885, United States Patent Office. *Holman, H.P., Jarrell, T.D., (date unknown) The Effects of Waterproofing Materials and Outdoor Exposure upon the Tensile Strength of Cotton Yarn, ''Industrial and Engineering Chemistry'', 15(3), US Department of Agriculture, Washington. *Stewart, C.S., (1977) Factors Affecting the Cellulolytic Activity of Rumen Contents, ''Applied and Environmental Microbiology'', pp. 497–502

External links

Johan's Dubbin Page
- a leathercrafter's perspective of this

conditioner. {{clothing-stub Footwear accessories