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That time a retired binder at the Seattle Guild Show taught me the "spit test" for leather

He said lick your finger, touch the leather, and if it darkens instantly it's too dry to work with. Has anyone else got weird old-timer tricks that actually work better than the fancy tools?
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averywilliams
Used to think moisture meters were the way to go, but this trick changed my mind completely. It's dead simple and honestly more reliable than the gadget I was using.
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hannahk19
hannahk191mo ago
Oh man, that spit test is legit! I was at a saddle shop in Wyoming last year and this old timer showed me the same thing. I actually laughed at first but then I tried it on some vintage leather I was fixing up and the difference was night and day. I used to waste so much money on those expensive moisture meters that would give me weird readings half the time anyway. Now I just lick my thumb and I know exactly what I'm working with. It's one of those things that just makes sense once you see it work.
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