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jbird

staining and finishing carved and tooled leather

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Hi I am new to the leather working but I like it a lot. Does any one have any tips for me on how to go about finishing a carved and tooled piece of leather. :whistle:

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Hi I am new to the leather working but I like it a lot. Does any one have any tips for me on how to go about finishing a carved and tooled piece of leather. :whistle:

jbird,

First off welcome to the forum and to the addiction, i mean leathercraft.

to keep your frustration down when trying to finish a piece, I would vote for an antique stain. You basically smear it on, wipe off the excess and let it dry and then top coat it with super sheen or satin sheen.

Marlon

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Rawhide,

Thanks for the tip I will try that.

Edited by jbird

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Welcome Jbird. Your question opens a lot of info. Rawhide gave you one good way to start. There is also lots to read here on LW.net.

Again, glad to have you here.

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Howdy Hi Josh,

Antique is simple, but I don't always like the outcome. My favorite way to finish something is the Sheridan way. Put a good coat of Neat Lac on (do it outside if you can, the stuff stinks) and let it dry over night, or in the sun for an hour. Two coats won't hurt , in fact it might help. Then get some Fiebing's paste antique and mix it half and half with Tan Kote. Put this on heavy with sheepskin and wipe the excess off with a paper towel and a damp sponge, in that order. The antique darkens the tooling while the Neat Lac resists the color on the rest. It's a fool-proof technique and looks darn nice. No need for any sealer on top of that. The only thing is, Tandy's doesn't carry the paste antique any more. You'll have to get it from Hide Crafters or somewhere.

Another thing that is easy to do is oil it. I prefer extra virgin olive oil, but pure neatsfoot oil works, too. Some people have trouble with olive oil going rancid, but I don't here in my cool, dry environment. Oils darken the leather evenly and soften it at the same time. Put it in the sun and it will get darker yet. If you want to put a finish on it, Tan Kote works well, and can be reapplied as time goes on.

If you choose to go with Eco Flo dyes, seal them with cheap hair spray, then spray on a finish, don't rub a finish on.

Hope this helps,

Kathy

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hi yaklady,

thanks for the help and tips.

I like your wiskey holders how did you finish those they look a live and very neatly done. :You_Rock_Emoticon:

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Kathy,

I should have consulted you a long time ago. I'll have to try that.

Marlon

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Kathy is doing it almost Sheridan correct.

1. oil to brownness desired

2. Neat lac or Bee Natural RTC (I now use this because neat lac is pretty harmful) 2 coats of the RTC

3. Paste antique, apply heavily w sheepskin

a. wipe off excess w paper towel 1st

b. let remaining antique, left in background, haze over(about 3-5 minutes)

c. buff off the rest with sheepskin or the fake stuff

4. Lightly Tan Kote over the top. If streaking occurs, wipe off streaks immediately with clean sheepskin. Then Tan Kote again.

The Tan Kote over the antique tends to seal it better and keeps it from coming off when you touch it.

You may use any color of antique for the highlights you desire. In Sheridan style we typically use either light brown, mahogany, or sheridan brown(which is the previous 2 mixed 1/2 and 1/2).

If you decide not to use a sealer in step 2, the antique will stain your leather. This is not a bad way of doing it, just depends on the look you are trying to achieve. I believe antique finish was meant to be used this way. Gives an aged look. Using it in the Sheridan fashion gives better highlights.

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Kathy is doing it almost Sheridan correct.

1. oil to brownness desired

2. Neat lac or Bee Natural RTC (I now use this because neat lac is pretty harmful) 2 coats of the RTC

3. Paste antique, apply heavily w sheepskin

a. wipe off excess w paper towel 1st

b. let remaining antique, left in background, haze over(about 3-5 minutes)

c. buff off the rest with sheepskin or the fake stuff

4. Lightly Tan Kote over the top. If streaking occurs, wipe off streaks immediately with clean sheepskin. Then Tan Kote again.

The Tan Kote over the antique tends to seal it better and keeps it from coming off when you touch it.

You may use any color of antique for the highlights you desire. In Sheridan style we typically use either light brown, mahogany, or sheridan brown(which is the previous 2 mixed 1/2 and 1/2).

If you decide not to use a sealer in step 2, the antique will stain your leather. This is not a bad way of doing it, just depends on the look you are trying to achieve. I believe antique finish was meant to be used this way. Gives an aged look. Using it in the Sheridan fashion gives better highlights.

(I now use this because neat lac is pretty harmful)

Amen

David Genadek

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Hey, Barry! Thank you for following up with the real Sheridan method. You're about as real as it gets when it comes to Sheridan. I've learned several ways of doing this and they're all different. Mixing the paste and Tan Kote works well here because the paste is a lot thicker than it is elsewhere. I guess that's because of my cold basement, I don't know. Mind if I put your way in my newsletter?

Marlon, feel free to ask me about anything. If I can't answer it, I'll find someone who can. Yes, do try out this method. I have lots of luck with it.

Josh, the light colored whiskey case was done the way I explained here. I didn't add oil like Barry suggests because I had a lot of glueing to do and oil and glue don't always mesh. I didn't want to chance it. The one with the C on the front had Fiebing's British Tan dye in the background, Block Out on the braid and edge of the C, and a coat of Eco Flo Chestnut Tan Hi-Liter over the whole thing. I never used Eco flo before, and it's scary because it will run and spot if it gets wet. I'm sure it will attract moisture, after all it is holding glasses. I sprayed cheap hair spray on it, and tried to spray Super Sheene over that, but it wouldn't spray for me. I had some gloss sealant sitting around, so I used that. They say the hair spray sets the dye because of the denatured alcohol in it. They also say not to rub Eco flo dyes because they smear. The gloss sealant went on well and seems to seal it like I want. I got it at Hobby Lobby.

Have you guys checked out the freakshow?

Kathy

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