Neatsfoot is NOT Neatsfoot!

gingahippy · 10-09-2008, 11:42 AM

I found this and thought it might be interesting to some of you, it was on

KINGSMERE CRAFTS

So the question has to be asked, surely we can make something ourselves where we know EXACTLY what is in our strop treatment? I know the US FDA allows the use of vinegar distilled from petrochemicals in food and there is no requirement that this is declared on the product.

Beware your pickles!

"Neat" is an archaic name for hoofed animals (i.e. cows, pigs, sheep). Neatsfoot oil is oil rendered from the feet of cattle or hoofed animals. In the slaughterhouse, the feet would be cut off the animal, split, put into a large vat and boiled. The oils that rose to the top would be skimmed off and sold as "Neatsfoot Oil." Today, thanks to the US military, there is no actual Neatsfoot oil in Neatsfoot Oil!

Back in the 1930s the US Army wrote a Military Specification that defined the properties of Neatsfoot Oil. Merchants bidding for government contracts quickly discovered other, less expensive, oils would meet their specification. Today, Neatsfoot Oil is any oil, regardless of where it comes from, that meets this US Government Military Specification. Neatsfoot Oil now is mostly derived from pigs. Lard is pressed and the resulting liquid, which can be supplemented with mineral oil and/or reclaimed motor oil, is sold as "Neatsfoot Oil."

Damon · 10-09-2008, 12:30 PM

When I purchase neatsfoot oil I can buy either a neatsfoot compound which is a mixture of oils or 100% pure neatsfoot oil I use nothing else but Tandy's 100% Pure Neatsfoot Oil It costs a little more but I personally like it's conditioning properties.

Agamemnon · 10-10-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingahippy

I found this and thought it might be interesting to some of you, it was on

KINGSMERE CRAFTS

So the question has to be asked, surely we can make something ourselves where we know EXACTLY what is in our strop treatment? I know the US FDA allows the use of vinegar distilled from petrochemicals in food and there is no requirement that this is declared on the product.

Beware your pickles!

"Neat" is an archaic name for hoofed animals (i.e. cows, pigs, sheep). Neatsfoot oil is oil rendered from the feet of cattle or hoofed animals. In the slaughterhouse, the feet would be cut off the animal, split, put into a large vat and boiled. The oils that rose to the top would be skimmed off and sold as "Neatsfoot Oil." Today, thanks to the US military, there is no actual Neatsfoot oil in Neatsfoot Oil!

Back in the 1930s the US Army wrote a Military Specification that defined the properties of Neatsfoot Oil. Merchants bidding for government contracts quickly discovered other, less expensive, oils would meet their specification. Today, Neatsfoot Oil is any oil, regardless of where it comes from, that meets this US Government Military Specification. Neatsfoot Oil now is mostly derived from pigs. Lard is pressed and the resulting liquid, which can be supplemented with mineral oil and/or reclaimed motor oil, is sold as "Neatsfoot Oil."

Your point being.......?

Neil Miller · 10-11-2008, 12:01 AM

It comes in a few forms in the UK "pure" and "blended." The pure is oil is what it says it is. The blended oil can contain petroleum products and/or be refined from lard. The pure variety is animal based, the best type coming from the shins of calves. It is still refined in the US despite what Kingsmere Crafts says - Welch even produce a kosher variety - so there can hardly be any pig-parts in that particular pot!

Regards,
Neil

gingahippy · 10-11-2008, 02:25 AM

Okay, I was under teh impression that Neat'sfoot was the brand, I didn't know you could choose your brand and your quality.

It's not common in the UK so I had never heard of it before here, I just didn't like the idea of rubbing recycled/used engine oil on my strop, the to my razor, then to my face.

joke1176 · 10-11-2008, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingahippy

Okay, I was under teh impression that Neat'sfoot was the brand, I didn't know you could choose your brand and your quality.

It's not common in the UK so I had never heard of it before here, I just didn't like the idea of rubbing recycled/used engine oil on my strop, the to my razor, then to my face.

I know what you mean. I prefer the smooth smooth feel of rendered animal feet on my face. Mmmmm.

trewornan · 10-11-2008, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingahippy

It's not common in the UK.

Actually it's very common in the UK. Try any farming supplier, leather shop, feed shop, sadlery or indeed many other types of shops. I suspect that under UK law selling other oils as Neatsfoot would be a breach of the Trades Description Act.

Agamemnon · 10-11-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joke1176

I know what you mean. I prefer the smooth smooth feel of rendered animal feet on my face. Mmmmm.

I'm a Crisco man, myself.

Neil Miller · 10-11-2008, 11:19 AM

Trewornan is correct - very common in the UK. Used by for saddlery, tack, leather workers, shoe care, etc, etc. Loads of different brands. Great for strops.

Incidentally, tallow is used for strops, too - Dovo call it "yellow paste" - some sort of euphemism, I expect! Tallow's origins are little better than those of neatsfoot (if you are squeamish about those sort of things - I'm not - I strop on a bit of animal skin): it is rendered from animal fat, coming originally from cow or sheep suet, which is the hardish yellow fat around the animals kidneys.