Are the rumors true? Can you use Fluid Film on Leather Boots?
After hearing about using the product to clean and recondition leather. We put it to the test and tried using Fluid Film to clean a pair of leather hiking boots. Check out the before and after photos.
If you are not familiar with Fluid Film, it is marketed as a rust & corrosion inhibitor. Designed to protect automobiles, tools, farm equipment, mowers and you name it from rusting.
What is Fluid Film? Why would I use it on leather boots?
Fluid Film was designed for the U.S. Navy during World War II to protect ballast tanks against rust and corrosion. Since then it has been a popular product among farmers, industrial sites and across the automotive world.
Living in the northeast, I came across the product to use as an undercarriage spray to protect against salt. It has done a great job as a rust preventative and helps to prevent freeze up on trailer ball hitches.
While it works great to protect metal there has been rumors of people using it to recondition leather.
Direct from their website they state, “Fluid Film is an excellent leather conditioner, and will soften and weather proof leather work boots.“ While this sounds good, there wasn’t much information available from people who actually tried it. So I decided to give it a go on a pair of Timberland hiking boots.
Fluid Film on Leather Boots (application)
Here are the steps used to apply Fluid Film on boots:
• Use a garden hose to remove loose dirt
• Spray the boot with Fluid Film
• Let it soak in for a minute or two
• Gently scrub the leather with a rag
• Remove all excess fluid with clean dry cloth
The results actually came out pretty impressive and best of all it was a very easy to do. Unfortunately, at the time I didn’t think this was that exciting so I didn’t take many good before shots.
Buy Fluid Film Online for the Best Pricing (click for 3-pack deal)
I even grabbed a second pair of Columbia boots to get some better before & after photos. As you can see, it did a great job of bringing the leather back to life.
Is Fluid Film good to use on leather boots?
From my tests on two pairs of leather hiking boots that were covered in dirt, Yes. I would say that the Fluid Film did a great job of reconditioning the leather to almost “like new” condition.
Spray on and wipe off
The can states that the product is non-toxic/non-hazardous so that made application very easy without having to use gloves. Unlike using bee’s wax products there was no heating of the leather required. Just spray on and wipe off.
Having tried a bees wax product on work boots in the past, I will say that the Fluid Film was much easier to work with. It also did not appear to change the color of the leather after application. This is a common concern of using bees wax waterproofing as they can sometimes darken the leather once applied.
While I would still prefer using Fluid Film over a bee’s wax product. If you have never heard of using bee’s wax on leather before. Be sure to check out Obenaufs Heavy Duty LP leather conditioner here. Over 1,000+ Reviews on Amazon.
Leather conditioner & waterproofing for work boots, Fluid Film (lanolin/wool wax)
What is the secret ingredient? Fluid Film is based on a lanolin (wool wax) which gives it the ability to serve as a protective barrier on metals and as conditioner to restore leather.
Produced by wool-bearing animals (sheep), this “wax” acts as waterproofing to allow water to easily shed from their wool coats. While it does have a very distinct smell, the fact that it is non-toxic is comforting.
Other Leather Products:
• Work boots
• Ax Sheaths
• Gun Holsters
• Gloves (including baseball gloves)
In addition to the leather boots I have had good results restoring a dried-out leather ax sheath. Apply a small amount and rub it into the surface with a clean rag. It really brings out the natural color and softens up the leather. I have also heard this would work well on gun holsters, baseball gloves and other leather equipment.
Tip, always be sure to apply any product to a small test area first!
Other Usages (battery terminals, tools, locks)
In addition to having good results as a rust preventative and leather cleaner. They claim that this stuff can be used on battery terminals (after making your connections), locks, snow equipment, tools and bike chains.
Protection against salt air and salt water
If you live on the coast and are constantly fighting the salt from destroying everything. Give it a try. Remember, the original use for this stuff was to protect ships from corrosive salt water in the ocean.
For metal that has already developed rust you may first need to apply a good rust converter like Corroseal. The rust converter will neutralize the rust by converting it to an inert compound (stable material) which will act as a barrier against future rust. After the product has dried for 24 hours a top coat of paint can be applied directly over the rusted surface.
Here is Corroseal used on a truck frame, Easy Method (with photos)
After the rust has been neutralized, you can then apply the Fluid Film to protect against future corrosion.
General Usage Video:
So far I have been happy with the results and will update this article with more uses for this product as time allows.
Fluid Film on Leather Boots (results)
Corrosion protection and leather conditioner in one can! Hiking boots or work boots, the lanolin wax did a great job of cleaning the leather and hopefully will act as a good waterproofing.
As you can see from the photo above these Timberland Hiking boots look as good as new. Time spent, maybe 10 minutes to do both boots. Can’t beat that!
Where is the best place to buy Fluid Film
Since you can use this stuff for so many things I like to keep a few cans on hand at all times.
Where can you buy Fluid Film?
Well there a few places that carry the 11.75oz single spray cans but if your looking for a good price I would recommend buying online. Three pack deal below.
Buy Fluid Film Online for the Best Pricing (click for 3-pack deal)
If you goto your local autoparts store you will pay considerably more for the same stuff.
Final Thoughts, Questions?
At the very least the process was very easy and the boots like as good as new. The bad? Check out my article on “Biggest Fluid Film Complaints!!!” here
If you have any questions or have some other uses for this product, we would love to hear from you.
More articles on keeping things looking new:
• Ready Seal stain on pressure treated wood (for wood stairs and decks)
• How to Stop Rust on a Truck Frame, Easy Method
• Frog Lube on a Weber Grill
• Old Honda Generator Restoration
• KNIPEX High Quality German Pliers
I buy Fluid Film 5-gallon pails at a time. It’s much cheaper that way. I also keep a spray can in my vehicles. I dab or spray Fluid Film on anything I don’t want to squeak or oxidize such as my wood fence, undercarriage of my pontoon boat and the pontoons, the undercarriage of my cars, trucks, metal work benches, bolt threads, tools, shoes, boots, guns, tools, and battery terminals. Also drench snowblower, 3 garden tractors, logsplitter, and all other equipment that stays outside all year. I also use Boeshield by the 5-gallon buckets and have compared results. Fluid Film does a better job at getting under pack rust and as a lubricant. Boeshield does better with leaving a thin, dry, film of wax and I use it for engine compartments with electrical connections. I sprayed both on top of a rusty stove out in the weather and a 1″ thick steel work bench. Both repelled and beaded water for about the same length of time.
George, thanks for stopping by and sharing your real-world examples of where you use Fluid Film. It really is a good product and works great to protect all kinds of equipment and tools. I am not familiar with the Boeshield product but will give it a look!