Tan-Kote / Resolene / Saddle-Lac/ What Do I Use!

[RLong830]

I recently completed a project for a friend and it turned out pretty good, but I noticed that when i touched it with moisture on my hands the dye came off, this project is designed to be worn on a shirt so this is not good for a white or light colored shirt!!.

I am new to leather working and have learned pretty much by trial and error and watching and listening in the background on this forum. I am frustrated when it comes to finishes. I see positive comments about this and not so positive comments about that. So...... tell me what you are using to seal your projects please. Can you use it with Eco-Flo products? Can you thin it? what is the trend now?

I dyed the project with Eco-Flo at first, then (after it dried), i used Fiebings on it to correct the goof Eco-Flo caused (I am not real happy with Eco-Flo lately). I then tried to use Tan-Kote to seal / protect the finish, but it didn't seem to do anything to protect it.

I went to my local craft store and saw "Saddle-Lac" spray, is this the same as Neat-Lac, and will it work?

Thanks ahead of time,

Ron

[Sixer]

Ron,

Saddle-Lac is a good finish (from what I've heard)... I prefer a simple 50/50 mix of Acrylic Res and water.

Ditch the Eco-Flo... that stuff is garbage.

[Art]

I think the first thing you need to do is take a soft horsehair shoe brush and buff your project to remove the residual dyestuffs left over from the dying operation. Saddle Lac (the spray is all I have used) leaves a very glossy sealed up finish on the leather. Neat Lac (no longer made but LCI makes a version for Springfield Leather and Sheridan Leather Outfitters) will also give you a gloss finish, but is more controllable and can be thinned with LCI thinner to make for a less glossy application. If you are looking for resistance to weather, then the above or Pecard's or Montana Pitchblend paste will do the trick without so much gloss. Bag and Tan Kote leave a flat to a little more gloss look by themselves, I usually top them with Montana Pitchblend.

Most important thing is to get the residual dye off first.

Art

I recently completed a project for a friend and it turned out pretty good, but I noticed that when i touched it with moisture on my hands the dye came off, this project is designed to be worn on a shirt so this is not good for a white or light colored shirt!!.

I am new to leather working and have learned pretty much by trial and error and watching and listening in the background on this forum. I am frustrated when it comes to finishes. I see positive comments about this and not so positive comments about that. So...... tell me what you are using to seal your projects please. Can you use it with Eco-Flo products? Can you thin it? what is the trend now?

I dyed the project with Eco-Flo at first, then (after it dried), i used Fiebings on it to correct the goof Eco-Flo caused (I am not real happy with Eco-Flo lately). I then tried to use Tan-Kote to seal / protect the finish, but it didn't seem to do anything to protect it.

I went to my local craft store and saw "Saddle-Lac" spray, is this the same as Neat-Lac, and will it work?

Thanks ahead of time,

Ron