On Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:47:21 -0000, "Dave West"
wrote:

Want to really waterproof my new leather boots. I have heard that dubbin
will rot leather and can soften it too much, and even ordinary shoe polish
with its 'spirit' content will dry out leather and do it no favours.

I do have a tube of silicon grease would. Would that be a good idea or might
it also damage the leather? Grateful for suggestions.

As others have asked: what boots? And what do you want to use them
for?

As t'other Nick has just said, nothing maintains constant
waterproofness without constant maintenance. I have a six-year-old
pair of leather military boots from Argentina which were built in the
traditional way and which are still waterproof. They get used mainly
on the pavement but are always my first choice for snow and ice like
our current conditions. Often they will be walked across footpaths and
fells and sometimes get very muddy - but I always wipe them clean
afterwards. I keep them shiny, supple and waterproof with good old
spit and polish: ordinary boot polish and spit mixed into an emulsion
by the action of brush on leather.

Nick