Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

I wanted to try a new product I ran into in one of my woodworking magazines. It is called FROG Tape. It is a fairly tacky masking tape similar to blue tape. But it has a twist that is significant for working leather. The edges of FROG tape are coated with an expanding absorbant. It is designed to seal the edge against water-based paint running under the tape.

Leather is not a smooth surface. It has hills and valleys when looked at very closeup. So a product that can expand to block any wicking of dye under some masking tape interested me very much. If it works it can assure me of razor sharp perfect edges on a belt with little or no risk of the black dye ruining a natural colored blank.

I ordered some FROG Tape and it arrived today. So I took a piece of strap about 1 1/4" or so and ran a piece of 1" FROG Tape up the middle of the blank taking care to create a nice straight line parallel to the edge. I gave it a quick run thru the burnisher. Then I took some water-based Fiebings Edge Kote and with a foam brush just schlepped it on the blank... both edges. I noted that there was a depression in the leather at one point and the FROG Tape could not make a perfect bond with it. If it was going to fail, this would be the place.

I let it dry for a few hours and then peeled the FROG Tape off and took a good look at the results. Judge for yourselves. The FROG Tape did a fabulous job. I am thrilled with its performance. I am giving away a secret even before it has become a secret! Check it out.

sCIMG3880.jpg sCIMG3883.jpg

sCIMG3885.jpg sCIMG3887.jpg sCIMG3888.jpg

sCIMG3891a.jpg sCIMG3891b.jpg sCIMG3892.jpg

Pretty darn good edge line if you ask me... a lot better than I can put on with either a brush or piece of felt.

:Holysheep::Holysheep::Holysheep:

post-7132-1232588892_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588904_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588915_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588931_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588946_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588968_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588979_thumb.jpg

post-7132-1232588990_thumb.jpg

Ride Safe!

Bree

2003 Dyna Wide Glide

Memberships:

Iron Butt Association, Niagara Falls HOG, Wild Fire HOG

NRA, Niagara County Sportsman's Association

  • Replies 24
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted (edited)

That's awesome! Where did you order it from?

Edited by tashabear
  • Members
Posted (edited)

I think Homedepot now carries this too. Thanks for the Tip it will help loads! :You_Rock_Emoticon:

Edited by Greybeard
Posted

Great idea, looks good too. Question, did it leave much or any residue on the leather. Like if you were gonna finish the belt after you do the edges would it cause any issues.

  • Members
Posted

I saw the Frog Tape on one of them DIY

shows and wondered if it worked as good

as they said. Now I know. Thanks Bree.

WINDY

To all those who think ..........................

Posted (edited)

FROG Tape is expensive... like about double the cost of Blue tape. I got mine at Amazon.com. My thought was to take the 1" tape and split it putting one half on the top of the blank and one half on the bottom You must be careful to make sure that the outer edge of the tape is aligned to the belt edge. If you split the tape, the inner edges of the split tape don't have the expanding stuff... only the outer edges. So be careful.

It is a fairly strong tack tape. Best to remove it fairly soon after applying it. I removed mine easily and it left no residue. But go slow or you might tear it as you remove it.

I plan to have only a small area of the FROG Tape in actual contact with the leather. I will fold the inner area back on itself so I can just lift it off. I won't be freestyling the dye like I did on the experiment. All that I need is 1/4 of an inch to catch any mistakes and give me a nice straight line.

:red_bandana::red_bandana::red_bandana:

Edit: Max... I will airbrush some water-based sealer on the test strap and see if there are any issues. A perfectly straight line is much easier to screw up than one that isn't!! Any flaw is immediately evident.

Edited by Bree

Ride Safe!

Bree

2003 Dyna Wide Glide

Memberships:

Iron Butt Association, Niagara Falls HOG, Wild Fire HOG

NRA, Niagara County Sportsman's Association

  • Members
Posted

" I will airbrush some water-based sealer on the test strap and see if there are any issues. A perfectly straight line is much easier to screw up than one that isn't!!"

Bree, I too would be interested in the airbrush blocking abilities of this stuff as well.

Thanks for the tip. And looking forward to you experimentation results.

Allen

Posted
" I will airbrush some water-based sealer on the test strap and see if there are any issues. A perfectly straight line is much easier to screw up than one that isn't!!"

Bree, I too would be interested in the airbrush blocking abilities of this stuff as well.

Thanks for the tip. And looking forward to you experimentation results.

Allen

Allen...

I have it hanging down in the shop and the airbrush is hooked up and ready to go. Once I get outta work, I will blow three coats of sealer on it and see what the heck happens. Results later today. CYA! Gotta get back to my non-leather job!!

:coffeecomp::coffeecomp::coffeecomp:

Ride Safe!

Bree

2003 Dyna Wide Glide

Memberships:

Iron Butt Association, Niagara Falls HOG, Wild Fire HOG

NRA, Niagara County Sportsman's Association

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...