Dubbin
Dubbin is a wax product used to soften, condition and waterproof leather. It consists of natural wax, oil and tallow.
It is different from shoe polish, which is used to impart shine and colour to leather.
Dubbin has been used since medieval times. In the 20th century, dubbin was regularly used by amateur football players in the United Kingdom, to waterproof leather football boots.
The name 'dubbin' is a contraction of the gerund "dubbing", describing the action of applying the wax to leather.
Ongoing conjecture abounds about whether the constituents of dubbin promote rotting of the natural fibre stitching used to attach leather pieces together. There are centuries of experience that suggests it is safe, but selected pieces of literature have demonstrated some deleterious effects on high–order cellulose structures by bacteria which survive and propagate in the amino acids and fats contained in tallow, one of the chief ingredients of dubbin.
Dubbin can also be used as a moisturiser and chain lubricant.
