Reshaping an A-2 neck (hot water = what not to do)

[Pilot]

Sold 3 ELC’s A-2’s here to members.. all were HWT, by me or the original owner and or the new owner… no issue at all..

 

[Camel24hrs]

I have a 30 year old ELC RW 1401 -- vegetable-tanned and spray-dye finish. It sheds water like a turtle's shell.

I also have a 25 year-old ELC Star Sportswear A-2 -- vegetable-tanned and what appears to be a pigment finish. It's not as water resistant as the 1401, but it's certainly not a sponge in any way.

It's not the tanning process that makes a hide less resilient to water, it's the finish used.

Yes, I've seen those aniline finished jackets soak in the rain (and give their owners convulsions), but I've also seen them dry out just fine with no undue scarring of such sacred wardrobe.

How many of us have vegetable-tanned boots we wear in inclement weather without a second thought?

You are right about vegetable tanned leather being more water resistant depending upon the way it is finished. However chrome tanned pigment finish leather is damn near water proof. Water runs right off of it. This was the reason the original A2 jackets were made with fully chrome tanned pigmented leather to begin with.