FAQs
Q: Do you have any installation/how-to videos?
A: Why, yes we do! Go to our YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/walnutstudiolo. We are adding new videos regularly, so subscribe to our e-newsletter and our YouTube channel to be notified when new ones are uploaded.
Q: How does the leather hold up in the rain?
A: Great! Leather has always traditionally been an outdoor material (think equestrian gear, work boots, etc). We use a high-quality leather same as that used for horse gear and bridles, so it's designed to withstand the elements. Leather is an exceptionally durable material, which is why we like working with it. That said, dryness is harder on leather than wetness. We recommend taking care of your leather using the minimum care recommendations below.
Q: How should I take care of my leather product?
A: Your Walnut Studiolo product was finished before it came to you with a layer of our leather dressing, a beeswax-based weatherproofing conditioner.
Leather is a tough material that can take a lot of abuse, however, over time and with use, the effects of the finish can eventually wear off.
Care for your product as soon as it starts to look dry, or about once every year or two for occasional use with good storage conditions and once a quarter for heavy outdoor use in the direct sun with dry humidity.
If your leather gets dirty, clean it with mild castile soap or hand dishwashing liquid, diluted at least 1:10 (it should not be sudsy), and allow to dry before conditioning.
Condition your product lightly - even if it has been a while. You can use a simple oil, like mineral or olive oil, or a weather-proofing conditioner product designed for vegetable-tanned leather, like equestrian sportswear, that has beeswax in it for water resistance. Walnut Studiolo's All-Natural Leather Dressing contains neatsfoot oil and lanolin for conditioning, beeswax for water resistance, and pine resin and essential oils for preservation.
No matter what product you use, make it a light coat, and buff it with a clean dry rag.
Keep in mind that conditioning leather usually darkens it slightly. Don't worry, this is normal. For a lot more information on leather care than you may have ever wanted to know, check out this excellent article by DeeAnna Weed of the Midwest Fjord Horse Club. It's geared more for equestrian gear but still has a ton of helpful information.
Q: What does "Studiolo" mean?
"Studiolo" is an architecture term for a small private cabinet or study room. The "lo" is a diminutive, like "little studio". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studiolo
Q: I love your work! But my bike/u-lock is special/different size. Can you make a custom version for me?
We love working with customers to make their bikes just so. We keep a gallery of our past custom work on our Flickr page here.
However, because of increased demand, we have much less time than we used to for making custom orders and we can't take them all. If you are not in a rush and it's not our busy season, we may be able to help out. If you're interested, please shoot us an email and let us know about your project at walnutstudiolo [at] gmail [dot] com.
Q: I love your work! Can I use it on my motorcycle? Or can you adapt it for my motorcycle?
Sorry, but no! We don't recommend our products for use on motorcycles. We don't have access to a motorcycle to design them for. There's a wonderful motorcycle-specific leather craftsman located just down the street from us in Portland called Langlitz Leathers you might want to check out, or for your custom project, there are other leathercrafters on Etsy that may be able to help out.
Q: I live outside of the USA. Does your shipping include my country's import fees/taxes/duties?
No. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in either our prices or shipping charges. We don't know how much they would be to charge for them or know how to remit them on your behalf from here in the USA. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be.
Please also keep in mind that when orders are shipped internationally, they may also be subject to customs clearance procedures which can cause delays beyond original delivery estimates. We ship USPS Priority Mail, which advertises 6-10 business days, but in practice, we have found that it can take up to 3 months for delivery!
To save yourself this headache, check out our Retailers section to see if our products are already carried in a store near you. If there are none, feel free to ask your favorite shop to carry our work and send them our way!
Q: I love the braided bar wraps in the Frame Handle pictures and videos! Where can I get those?
Aw, shucks! Thanks for noticing. That particular braid is a special one that Geoff uniquely invented. It is a 4-strap braid and has to be fitted uniquely to the handlebars. There are only a couple in the world, and all of them either brought or mailed their bikes to Geoff to specially cut, design, and install for them. If you'd like this custom installation work, please email us at walnutstudiolo [at] gmail [dot] com for details.
However, you can achieve a similar look with the same colors of leather but a different style by using the regular 2-strap Braided Wraps, which can be installed on either the handlebars or the top-tube, wrapped to the desired length, cut with scissors, and finished in the same way you finish handlebar tape, such as wrapped twine.
Q: Can I check out your work or purchase it in person at retail stores?
Yes! Please check out our Retailers section for an up-to-date listing of participating retailers. If your favorite bike store isn't listed here, let us and them know, we'd love to work with them!
Q: I live in Portland. Can I pick up my order instead of ordering online and paying for shipping?
All of our bicycle gear is now available in Portland at JOE BIKE's two retail locations (SE 39th and Lincoln and SE 41st and Hawthorne)! However, if they don't carry the products you want, or if you have a custom or large order, you are welcome to come pick it up at our shop instead. Please shoot us an email at walnutstudiolo [at] gmail [dot] com and let us know what you'd like and when you'd like to pick up and we'll figure out the details from there.
